Overview of Human Rights in Oman

The Sultanate of Oman is a hereditary monarchy which has been ruled by the Al Bu Sa’id family since the 18th Century. The government of Oman works to respect the civil and human rights of its citizens; however, problems persist. There are restrictions on many civil liberties in Oman. Freedoms of speech, the press, association, assembly, religion, and privacy are arbitrarily limited or restricted at the will of the government. Arbitrary arrest and detention take place. The government does not ensure full rights for women. Workers rights are also restricted. Citizens are also unable to change their government.  That said, the country has one of the better human rights records when compared with other countries in the wider Middle Eastern region.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

56th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.