A/HRC/31/11 59. Nigeria commended Oman for the policies and legislation implemented to promote human rights, including in respect of citizenship and transparency in the electoral appeal law. 60. While Norway acknowledged that Oman had made progress in advancing the status of women, it noted that their status still lagged behind that of men, especially regarding the right to transfer their nationality to their children. 61. Pakistan welcomed the various programmes and mechanisms established for the welfare of children and disabled and elderly people. 62. Panama commended Oman for the development of a national work plan for the implementation of the recommendations that it had accepted in the context of its first universal periodic review. 63. The Philippines encouraged Oman to set up a national human rights institution compliant with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles) and urged the Government to continue to ensure the protection of migrant workers. 64. The delegation of Oman stated that the Sultanate’s policies, plans and programmes were all devoted to achieving the objectives of sustainable development. The Sultanate strove to take measures to improve social development, and focused on a concept of development based on partnership, empowerment and equality. 65. The delegation noted that the Sultanate ensured the social protection of children, women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. In that context, it had ratified a number of international conventions in the field of human rights. In addition, since 2013 the Sultanate had been preparing a social work strategy. 66. Regarding women’s rights, the delegation indicated that women had a privileged position in Omani society and played an active role in the economic and social development process in the country. They had the same rights as men, in accordance with the Constitution. 67. The delegation noted that the provision of rehabilitation programmes for persons with disabilities was a priority of the Sultanate; such programmes were aimed at developing the potential and abilities of persons with disabilities and promoting their participation and integration in society. 68. In fulfilment of its commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols to which Oman was a party, and in reinforcement of the rights of the child in Oman, the delegation noted that the Government had promulgated the child law in 2014 and had created child protection committees in various governorates. The committees received and followed up on complaints and communications, from individuals and governmental and civil actors, related to any violation of the rights of the child. 69. The delegation reaffirmed the importance of civil society institutions and indicated that their representatives were invited to participate in various committees and conferences. 70. The delegation explained that the cooperation of the Ministry of Manpower with the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the technical expertise and practical capacities of ILO that Oman had been able to draw on, had helped enable the Sultanate to develop labour legislation, organize the labour market and develop programmes and regulations guaranteeing the rights of employers and workers. 71. Regarding the expatriate labour force, the delegation stated that contracts were agreed by the employer and the worker and approved by the official authorities in the Sultanate, including the embassies of some sending States. 8