Oman: a global pacesetter in human development
Oman, Culture, 10/23/1997

The Sultanate of Oman, has been recognized as a leader in social development of women and has been singled out as "a global pace-settler in human development" in the 1997 human development report published by the United Nations Development Program.

Under the leadership of Sultan Qaboos, Oman has been especially progressive in its promotion of women.

This is witnessed by the phenomenal expansion of educational opportunities for girls over the past 27 years, the large number of women serving in the government, including at managerial levels, the opening of participation in the Majlis Al Shura to women throughout the Sultanate and the enactment of progressive legislation safeguarding important rights of women, such as those embodied in the personal status law.

The remarks were made by Shahnaz Kianian Firouzgar, Unicef representative in the Sultanate, at the opening of a development workshop yesterday.

The issues of gender and development, which will be discussed at the workshop, involve looking at the special roles, relationships and resources men and women bring to society order to identify problems, define potentials and ensure that both men and women can equally contribute to and benefit from the processes of social development that affect us all, Firouzgar noted.

Unicef as the UN agency devoted to the well-being of children has a special mandate to safeguard and promote the well-being of woman.

This is based on the recognition of the close connection between the well-being of children and the advancement of women, Firouzgar said.

The four-day workshop, held under auspices of Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Isai, was attended by participants drawn from different Ministries, Sultan Qaboos University, the Omani Women's Association, volunteer groups and the private sector. Dr. Fatma Khafagy, the project officer for gender and development in Unicef, Cairo, who facilitated the workshop was also present on the occasion.

Previous Stories:
  Oman buys British fighter jets   (9/25/1997)
  Woman in Oman's Shura council   (8/12/1997)
  Unique bank open in Oman   (8/7/1997)

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