Muscat: The Shura Council completed its evaluation of the draught Civil Society Institutions Law on Wednesday, following extensive discussions on numerous parts, and recommended that the State Council complete the legislative process.
This occurred during the 11th ordinary session of the second annual convention (20242025) of the tenth term (20232027), which was presided over by Khalid Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of the Shura Council.
The Council finished talks on the draught statute submitted by the government during today's session, with Mansour Zahir Al Hajri, Chairman of the Health and Social Committee, presenting the project report.
Al Hajri said that the draught legislation addresses changes in Omani civil society work, with the goal of resolving societal and regulatory issues that civil society organizations face. It establishes a flexible and dynamic legal framework that adapts to change while strengthening these institutions' contribution in national development. The draught also includes specific rules for volunteer groups, which are divided into six chapters and total 83 articles. These sections include general definitions, civil associations, civil institutions, social associations, volunteer work, and final provisions.
He stated that the committee met with various civil society groups and concerned organizations to get their opinions and observations on the draft law's provisions. He emphasized that the committee thoroughly investigated all legislative and societal elements during its assessment.
During the meeting, Council members offered feedback on a number of clauses and suggested improvements to reinforce the legal wording and ensure consistency with the actual realities of civil society organizations.
The discussions also touched on topics like as licensure, categorization, regulation of civilian work, and penalty provisions.
