The Right to Food around the Globe

  Oman

The Constitution of the Sultanate of Oman does not explicitly guarantee the right to adequate food. 

The Sultanate of Oman has become a State party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 2020 by way of accession.

CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITIONS OF THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD

National status of international obligations

Article 72: “The application of this Basic Law shall not infringe the treaties and agreements concluded between the Sultanate of Oman and other States and international bodies and organisations.”

Other pertinent provisions for the realization of the right to adequate food

Article 11: “Economic principles -  
"The national economy is based on justice and the principles of free economy. Its essence is the constructive and fruitful cooperation between public and private activity. Its objective is the achievement of economic and social development in order to increase production and raise the standard of living of the Citizens according to the general plan of the State and within the limits of the Law […].” 

Article 12: "The social principles -  […] The family is the basis of the society and the Law regulates the means for protecting it, preserving its legitimate entity, strengthening its ties and values, safeguarding its members and providing suitable conditions to develop their potential and capabilities. The State guarantees aid for the Citizen and his family in cases of emergency, sickness, disability, and old age according to the social security scheme. The State shall work for the solidarity of the Society in bearing the burdens resulting from national disasters and catastrophes. The State is responsible for public health and the means of prevention and treatment of diseases and epidemics. The State endeavours to provide healthcare for every Citizen and encourages the establishment of private hospitals, polyclinics and medical institutions to be under its supervision and in accordance with regulations determined by the Law. The State also works for the conservation of the environment, its protection, and the prevention of pollution."

Article 44: “The Council of Ministers is the authority entrusted with the implementation of the general policies of the State and in particular undertakes the following: Protecting the interests of the Citizens and ensuring the availability of the necessary services to them, and enhancing their economic, social, health, and cultural standards. Determining the objectives and the general policies for economic, social, and administrative development and proposing the necessary means and measures for their implementation which ensure the best utilisation of the financial, economic and human resources.”

INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – 1948

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) – 1966

Status: Accession (2020)

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) – 1979

Status: Accession (2006)

Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – 1989

Status: Accession (1996)

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – 2006

Status: Ratification (2009)

Legislation and policies recognizing the right to adequate food

Guidance on how to progressively realise the human right to adequate food in contexts of national food security has been provided by the Right to Food Guidelines, adopted by the FAO Council and endorsed by the Committee on World Food Security.

Considering that the human right to adequate food can be implemented through a variety of legal and policy actions, we invite you to visit the FAOLEX Country Profile database for a wide-ranging collection of measures that have been taken at national level. Some of the documents you may find are legislation and policies that touch on a number of relevant Guidelines, such as those on Access to resources and assets (Guideline 8), Food safety and consumer protection (Guideline 9), Support for vulnerable groups (Guideline 13) and Natural and human-made disasters (Guideline 16).

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