WUNRN
OMAN
- FIRST ANNUAL OMANI WOMEN'S DAY
Ravindra
Nath - 19 October 2010
MUSCAT — Activities and celebrations marking the first
annual ‘Omani Women’s Day’ (OWD) kicked off on Sunday at a high-profile
function here with key speakers underlining that women have equally contributed
to the country’s development as men.
They
noted that two crucial ministries now had more female employees than men, and
women had played a major role in promoting the ‘dignity of the nation’. The Omani society, the speakers, who included
high-raking government officials, said, offered the same rights and opportunities
to men and women.
October
17 was designated as Omani Women’s Day at a national symposium held last year
coinciding with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s annual ‘Meet the People’
tour to acknowledge their contribution to the country’s social, political and
economic progress.
The
first OWD got off to a grant start with celebrations also held in far away
Shanghai where the six-month-long ‘World Expo 2010’ is coming to a close.
Women
in Oman occupy top-ranking positions in both the government the private sector
and there is a new thrust to ensure that their rights are protected with the
full backing of the ruler.Three ministers with cabinet rank and holding
important portfolios – higher education, tourism and social development, are
women.
There
are also several women under-secretaries, ambassadors and directors-general, as
well as chairpersons of banks and leading private companies. Oman’s Basic
Law
of the State does not discriminate between men and women. Women can vote and
stand as candidates in elections to the Majlis Ash’shura just as men. “The
Omani society, since early ages, is based on the participation of all members
of society, males and females, in all the social and economic aspects of life,”
Social Development Minister Dr Sharifah bint Khalfan al Yahyaeyah observed at
Sunday’s OWD gathering at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel.
Dr
Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO)
and Chairman of the Tender Board, presided over the event held under the theme
‘A Partner in Development’. The guests included several ministers and senior
state officials and other dignitaries.