Muscat: The international workshop on data collection and indicators, aimed at gauging advancements in human rights according to global standards, organised by the Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) in collaboration with the United Nations Center for Training and Documentation in Human Rights for Southwest Asia and the Arab Region, commenced in Muscat.
Scheduled for three days, the workshop underscores the significance of data and information in assessing progress, as emphasised by Dr Khalifa bin Abdullah al Barwani, CEO of the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI), who patronised the event.
Dr Al Barwani highlighted the workshop's objective of enhancing Omani capacities in data completion processes through training and skill development.
NCSI serves as the primary entity for gathering diverse data and information, supplying governmental, private, and international institutions to facilitate progress evaluation across various sectors.
Dr Rashid bin Hamad al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Human Rights Commission, emphasised the significance in fulfilling the commission's mandates outlined in Royal Decree No 57/2022. These mandates include collaborating with international human rights mechanisms, generating reports, participating in human rights forums regionally and internationally, organising relevant events, and providing counsel to local authorities on human rights matters.
He noted that the event builds upon the committee's ongoing efforts in awareness and educational initiatives, aiming to reach various segments of society and align with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
The participants include civil society representatives alongside governmental bodies and institutions. The workshop aims to enhance participants' comprehension of human rights-based data methodologies, including the use of indicators to measure progress in human rights, application of guidelines, and data collection methodologies. The focus lies on effectively utilising indicators to assess human rights at the national level.
Ishraq Bin Al Zein, Deputy Director of the United Nations Center for Training and Documentation in Human Rights for Southwest Asia and the Arab Region, said that this workshop comes within the United Nations Training Center's commitment to bolstering the capacities of countries and stakeholders, including national human rights institutions in the Arab region. This initiative aims to fulfill obligations in human rights by submitting timely reports to various UN mechanisms, adhering to relevant guidelines.
She elaborated on the framework developed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, designed to advance human rights promotion, policy formulation, impact evaluation, and transparency. Utilising indicators and adopting a human rights-based approach to data collection are essential for assessing progress in the human rights field. These indicators are crucial for implementing international standards and obligations in human rights.
Employing indicators and embracing a human rights-centric methodology in data collection allows both countries and national human rights institutions to appraise the advancement of individuals' enjoyment of human rights in practical terms.
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