MUSCAT: The State Council, on Tuesday, participated in the regional workshop organised by the Arab Parliament via video communication technology on Arab national legislation and laws and obstacles to implementation, and the preparation of an Arab guiding draft law to combat violence against women in the Arab world.

The Council was represented by Honourable Dr. Aisha bint Hamad Al Darmakiah, Chairperson of the Culture, Media and Tourism Committee, member of the Council, in the seminar, which aims to shed light on the reality of legislation and laws concerned with combating violence against women, and Arab national achievements to support and empower women in various fields, and to exchange experiences, information and successful experiences on the situation of Arab women.

In addition to monitoring the challenges facing the implementation of laws related to violence against women, identifying the best mechanisms needed to support them in facing these challenges, and including the issue of combating violence against women in all efforts directed at women, in addition to spreading a woman-friendly culture and combating the cultural roots of all distinctive and violent practices against them.

The workshop, in which the heads of committees concerned with women’s issues in national councils and parliaments, heads of Arab national mechanisms and regional and international bodies concerned with Arab women’s issues participated, touched on three axes: the reality of legislation against violence against women in Arab countries (gains, challenges, and problems), and the challenges that Confronting the implementation of legislation related to combating violence against women, and the elements that must be available in the draft Arab guiding law to combat violence against women.

The Honourable Dr. presented a working paper on best practices in the Sultanate of Oman regarding the protection of women, in which she touched upon legislation, laws and policies, international treaties and agreements signed in this regard, and institutions and structures concerned with the protection of women against violence in the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to presenting proposals and visions on topics and issues that should be to be included in the law.

The episode embodies the Arab Parliament’s keenness to consult with the authorities concerned with women’s affairs in the Arab countries regarding the best practices applied in the Arab countries and the contents that these authorities wish to include in the draft law to prepare it in an optimal way that supports the rights of Arab women.

The workshop was held in conjunction with the celebration of the Arab Women’s Day, which comes within the framework of the Arab Parliament’s endeavour to prepare an Arab guiding draft law to combat violence against women.