In a significant legislative and human rights development, Royal Decree No. 47/2026 has been issued to reorganise the Oman Human Rights Commission.

This reflects a high level political will to strengthen the human rights system in the Sultanate of Oman and align it with international standards,

The move carries out a comprehensive restructuring and marks the beginning of a new phase for the Commission characterised by greater independence and transparency and enhanced oversight and visiting powers.

It places Oman among countries that adopt strong and independent national mechanisms in close alignment with the internationally recognised Paris Principles governing national human rights institutions.

One of the major transformations introduced by the new framework is a full legal guarantee for the Commission’s independence, which is the cornerstone of any successful human rights institution.

Article 11 explicitly provides for the Commission’s “full independence in carrying out its human rights related activities”, alongside protections that prevent interference in its work or holding its members accountable for opinions they express.

Article 9 grants Commission members the exclusive right to elect a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson from among themselves at their first meeting, provided that neither are representatives of government administrative units. This approach is further reinforced by Article 18, which allows government representatives to attend meetings, but without voting rights.

Article 1 says the Commission shall have 14 members, ensuring balance by limiting government representation to no more than four members. The membership selection process is to be based on transparency, pluralism, diversity and competition among candidates, with an emphasis on the importance of inclusive representation.

Article 1 also stipulates appropriate female representation, strengthening the role of Omani women in human rights decision making and policy direction. Article 3 sets out professional criteria for membership to ensure competence The criteria include a minimum age of 30, a university degree or equivalent, and at least eight years relevant professional experience in human rights related fields. This is intended to ensure that the Commission operates as a specialised and professional national body.

The Commission is granted the authority to conduct both announced and unannounced field visits to prisons, detention centres, healthcare institutions and labour gatherings to monitor human rights conditions. The Commission is also tasked with receiving and examining complaints, identifying violations and working to address and resolve them.

Article 16 assigns the Commission the role of monitoring observations and criticism raised by foreign governments, international organisations and the media. It is responsible for coordinating with relevant authorities to verify and respond to such observations and criticisms in a systematic manner.

The Commission is also charged with playing a key advisory role to the Government in the preparation of international reports, and may recommend ratification of or accession to international treaties and conventions which Oman has not yet joined. This aims to keep Omani legislation continuously updated and aligned with global human rights developments.

Article 20 places a clear legal obligation on all units of the state administrative apparatus to facilitate the Commission’s work and to provide it promptly with the data and information it requires.

Under Article 21, the Commission must prepare a comprehensive annual report on its activities and recommendations. The report is to be submitted directly to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and copies are to be sent to the Council of Ministers, the State Council and the Shura Council.

With this new framework, the Omani Human Rights Commission is now well positioned to obtain the highest international accreditation, “A status”, from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.