Omani women have experienced a change in their status since 1970 when they were granted the right to education which represented a key step towards the emancipation of Omani women. Also, Oman ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2006 and arranged equal land ownership rights in 2008, reflecting progress in the direction of equal rights. Oman claims to advance towards gender equality, yet CEDAW’s obligations have not been fully respected and the country still discriminates against women with respect to workforce participation, marriage, divorce, inheritance, nationality and child custody, as well as restrictions on movement.
Although Omani women can vote, run for public office, and apply for ministerial positions, women remain underrepresented in decision-making roles. A reason for this is that the government has chosen to primarily address economic challenges over gender equality. Also, Oman has deep-rooted patriarchal norms across its communities which impedes women’s full engagement in public life and representation in leadership roles. The influence of tribal traditions further complicates women’s experiences, especially in rural regions where prominent tribes impose stricter restrictions on female members.
The rate of women’s labor force participation in Oman has risen over the past few decades but it is still lower than other Gulf Arab states, reaching 32 percent in 2023. Oman’s Labour Law requires that women and men are paid equal wages for the same work, yet domestic workers, that are mainly women, are not covered by the legislation. Also, the law includes legal restrictions on women’s employment in some occupations considered arduous or hazardous.
Moreover, the discriminatory legislation affects women’s rights in the areas of marriage, divorce, inheritance and nationality. Women require approval from a male relative or guardian to marry and they must demonstrate abandonment, lack of financial support, or pay compensation for the husband’s consent to obtain the divorce. Additionally, daughters inherit only half of what sons do. Finally, Oman’s Nationality Law does not allow children of Omani mothers to be granted nationality to their children on an equal basis with children of Omani fathers and women face more challenges in gaining legal guardianship of their children.
Therefore, despite several legal advancements, Oman’s efforts to achieve gender equality are still weak, and cultural and social factors intensify the challenges faced by Omani women.
ECDHR urges Oman’s authorities to ensure a continuous examination of discriminatory practices against women in order to guarantee advancements and effectively tackle the issues related to gender inequality, for example by reforming the country’s personal status and nationality laws. Also, ECDHR highlights the importance of facilitating women’s full integration into social and economic development and denounces the restrictions to women’s rights in the areas of marriage, divorce, and citizenship. Finally, ECDHR calls on the international community to monitor Oman’s legislation to ensure it complies with international standards and conventions.