Muscat Hosts 12th Session of ESCWA Committee on Women, Focuses on Progress in Gender Equality

Muscat, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman today hosted the 12th session of the “Committee on Women” of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), a pivotal event in the ongoing effort to assess the progress made in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, marking thirty years of commitment to gender equality.

The session, held in collaboration with the ESCWA, the Arab League, and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, is part of a broader high-level meeting on advancing women’s rights and empowerment in the Arab region and beyond.

Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Oman’s Minister of Social Development, delivered a speech underscoring the Sultanate’s commitment to gender equality. She highlighted Oman’s dedication to submitting periodic reports on its progress in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), fulfilling its international obligations through a participatory approach involving government departments, the Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC), and civil society institutions.

“We are committed to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5, which focuses on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls,” Dr. Al Najjar said. She also mentioned that Oman submitted its second voluntary report on the implementation of gender equality in 2024, reflecting the nation’s focus on social wellbeing and the protection of rights.

Mehrinaz El Awady, ESCWA Director of the Gender Justice, Population and Comprehensive Development Cluster, praised Oman’s ongoing support for women’s issues, noting that this session takes place against the backdrop of global challenges. She pointed out the devastating impact of conflicts on economic growth and global food security, particularly in the Arab region, where issues such as the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories continue to exacerbate the suffering of women and girls.

El Awady emphasized that the challenges have increased significantly, with areas impacted by conflict growing by 65 percent over the past three years. She called for stronger, collective action to support women and girls in these difficult circumstances.

The meeting highlighted the need for continued regional cooperation to address these pressing challenges and further progress toward gender equality in the Arab world and beyond.