MUSCAT – According to the latest Sustainable Development Goals Statistics Report released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Oman has made significant strides in enhancing public safety and reducing violence across the country, with 90 percent of people reporting that they feel safe walking alone in their local area after dark, as of 2023.

The report highlights a significant decline in homicide rates, which fell to 0.14 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023 – a 46 percent reduction compared to 2015. Oman’s legislative framework and targeted social programmes have played a key role in reducing all forms of violence and ensuring the protection of both citizens and residents.

The percentage of the population exposed to physical violence dropped to 0.6 percent, while cases of sexual violence decreased to 2.3 percent in 2020.

The report also noted Oman’s commitment to child protection through its Child Law, which prohibits physical or psychological punishment by caregivers. In 2015, only 0.003% of children under 18 were reported to have experienced physical violence, while psychological violence was reported at a rate of 0.0001 percent.

Efforts to combat human trafficking have also shown results, with victim rates recorded at just 0.2 per 100,000 people in 2023.

The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by UN member states in 2015, serve as a global framework to eliminate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. The 17 interconnected goals address a wide range of issues, from economic and environmental sustainability to social justice and human rights.