Muscat Municipal Council reviews child protection mechanisms

Muscat: The Municipal Council of Muscat Governorate, in its ninth meeting this year, chaired by His Excellency Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat and Chairman of the Municipal Council, reviewed the statement of the Ministry of Social Development regarding the Child Protection Committee in Muscat Governorate.

The statement included three main axes: the first related to child protection committees, the second to the child protection hotline, and the last to the child protection delegate. The statement was presented by Imad bin Mohammed bin Saif Al Saidi, Head of the Protection Section at the Family Protection Department.

Al-Saeedi pointed out that the “Child Protection Committees” were established in the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman and include in their membership representatives of the Ministries of Social Development, Education, Health, the Royal Oman Police, the Public Prosecution, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, representatives from the government sector in their personal capacity, and representatives of civil society organizations.

In pictures: Muscat Municipal Council reviews child protection mechanisms

These committees are responsible for receiving complaints or reports from individuals, governmental, civil or private entities about any violations of children’s rights, or their exposure to violence, exploitation or abuse.

The necessary measures are taken in this regard, and studying and following up on cases of children who are exposed to or have been exposed to violence, exploitation or abuse, or their rights are violated, by developing treatment and psychological and social rehabilitation plans. In this regard, they may seek assistance from the relevant authorities and institutions, monitor and discuss cases, evaluate their results, and develop proposals and recommendations, through the monitoring form prepared for this purpose and documenting them in the comprehensive national monitoring records of the Family Protection Department, in addition to other specializations, stressing that the free telephone line designated for child protection is (1100) and operates around the clock and in complete confidentiality while preserving the identity of the reporter.

On another note, the Council approved the minutes of its eighth meeting this year, in which it reviewed the Council’s work plan for 2025, along with a number of topics, and reviewed the recommendations of its permanent committees.

The Social Affairs Committee discussed the work plan for social development committees and volunteer teams, the recommendations of the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee regarding the report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources on water wells, the recommendations of the Governorate Development and Development Committee regarding allocating an entrance for buses at Jamila Bint Thabit Basic Education School in the Wilayat of Seeb, and the committee’s future work plans and proposals.