Sunday 31 / August / 2025
Muscat: The Ministry of Social Development, in collaboration with UNICEF Oman, is hosting a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop, which began on Sunday until 4 September, 2025 to strengthen the implementation of Oman’s updated Child Protection Manual.
The training brings together more than 50 child protection specialists and practitioners from key sectors, including the Ministries of Social Development, Education, and Health, the Royal Oman Police, Child Protection Committee members, and the Public Prosecution. The ToT focuses on hands-on learning, giving participants the chance to practice using the manual in real-life scenarios, with work groups and exercises designed to help them apply procedures for case management, referrals, and reporting, and to understand how to coordinate effectively to protect children.
The updated Child Protection Manual, launched by the Ministry of Social Development in June 2025, provides a comprehensive framework for identifying, reporting, and responding to cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Its guidance is aligned with international and national commitments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Oman’s Child Law and Vision 2040, ensuring that child protection efforts support both global and national priorities. The manual outlines clear referral pathways, defines the roles of each relevant entity, and sets specific timelines for follow-up and case closure, all necessary to safeguard the most vulnerable children.
Sayyida Maani bint Abdullah Al-Busaidi, Director General of Family Development and Head of the Child Protection Committee at the Ministry of Social Development said: “This training will help ensure that the Child Protection Manual is fully understood and applied in a consistent manner across all relevant institutions. By focusing on practical exercises and real-life cases, we aim to equip participants with the skills to protect children effectively and coordinate seamlessly. Our shared goal is to strengthen coordination and ensure that no child in Oman is left without the protection they deserve.”
UNICEF Representative to the Sultanate of Oman, H.E. Sumaira Chowdhury, added: “When a child is at risk, the speed, accuracy, and compassion of the response can change the course of their life. This training will help embed a unified approach across all entities, reinforcing our collective responsibility to protect every child, everywhere.”
The ToT is the first step in a broader plan to strengthen child protection across the Sultanate. The trainers who complete this programme will share their knowledge with other child protection specialists nationwide, aiming to reach 200 practitioners during this initial phase. This initiative is part of the Ministry of Social Development and UNICEF’s joint efforts to institutionalise child protection mechanisms nationwide. It follows extensive consultation with stakeholders to align the manual’s guidance with existing structures in ministries and to explore future digital solutions for case management.
