Statement by India at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group 37^th Session (18-29 January 2021) : 3rd UPR of Oman - Interactive Dialogue, delivered by Mr. S. Senthil Kumar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India [Geneva, 21 January 2021]

Madam President,

India welcomes the delegation of Oman and thanks the delegation for their comprehensive presentation.

2. We laud the effective response of the Government of Oman to address the COVID situation and especially, appreciate the support extended to the expatriate community during the pandemic, including provisioning of free testing, treatment and vaccination.

3. We welcome Oman's accession to important Human Rights Instruments, most notably the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

4. We welcome the recent legislative measures to protect the workers’ right to work of their own free will and the voluntary pledge in National Report to protect the rights of workers at national level.

5. In the spirit of cooperation, India offers the following recommendations:

i) encourage to continue taking measures to strengthen the legal protection available to foreign workers, including introduction of wage protection system.

ii) continue to take measures to further empower women.

iii) enhance its efforts to provide human rights training and awareness raising programmes to law enforcement officials, judiciary and media.

6. We wish Oman success in all its future endeavours.

I thank you Madam President. 

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