On the sidelines of the Laboratory for the Development of Services and Programmes for Persons with Disabilities in Oman, the Ministry of Social Development, in partnership with ESCWA, is holding a specialized panel discussion to review the results of a forthcoming study on "Women's Economic Empowerment in the Arab Region - Developing the Care Economy - A Case Study: Women's Economic Empowerment and Care for Persons with Disabilities in the Sultanate of Oman" and discuss its recommendations and the way forward.
In the context of Sultanate of Oman's continuous efforts to develop programs for persons with disabilities, the Ministry of Social Development, in cooperation with the Oman Vision 2040 Follow-up Unit and in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor, organized a national laboratory to discuss the challenges that hinder the development of services and programs for persons with disabilities, and to discuss possible solutions.
This initiative offered an opportunity for national stakeholders to discuss issues of relevance including women’s economic empowerment and care provided to persons with disabilities. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Development, in partnership United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), organized a national dialogue to review the results of the study entitled "Women's Economic Empowerment in the Arab Region - Developing the Care Economy - A Case Study: Women's Economic Empowerment and Care for Persons with Disabilities in the Sultanate of Oman".
The dialogue held on Tuesday, 19 December 2023, permitted to discuss the recommendations resulting from the study, which seeks to adopt a set of public policies aimed at redistributing the burden of unpaid care and advancing the development of the care economy in the Sultanate of Oman in a way that achieves two complementary goals: promoting and preserving the dignity and rights of persons with disabilities and their participation and inclusion in all aspects of life on the basis of equal opportunities on the one hand, and women's economic empowerment. Achieving gender equality on the other hand.
A presentation on the study and its main findings and recommendations was delivery during the session.
The presentation of the study was followed by interventions by several representatives of the relevant ministries. The dialogue concluded by agreeing to include the results of the national laboratory in the recommendations of the study within an executive summary on which to build in the follow-up of the results achieved. The participants stressed the importance of continuing joint work to build on achievements in a way that serves the rights of persons with disabilities and women's issues and contributes to achieving opportunities for social justice and gender equality in the Sultanate of Oman.
Tunis, Tunisia
