Women Empowerment
Decision Making in the
GCC :
Oman as a Case Study
Empowerment of women and girls
was not just a goal in itself, but a
key to long-term development,
economic growth, and social
advancement for all.
Deputy Secretary-General AshaRose Migiro’ 2 March 2010




Women who took part in decision
making since 1994
Shukoor Al Ghamari (1995-1997, 1998 -2000)
Rahila Al Riyami (2001-2003, 2003 – 2007)
Taiba Al Ma’awali (1995-1997 ,1998 -2000)
Lujaina Al Za’abi (2001-2003, 2003 – 2007)
Omani women are the first to be included in the
decision Making Process
No women were elected
 21 women ran for elections out of
632 candidates

2007
Sixth Term 2008 – 2011
• Men, in Oman traditionally, have benefited
from tribal platforms and certain social
prejudices against women.
• Lack of political and public engagement of
women.
• Previous women members were from the
Capital Governorate and represented crème
de la crème of society.
The Challenge
The Concept:

Program Election Campaign Design
and Management aimed to prepare
women candidates planning to run
for the 2011 Shura elections and as
potential Campaign Managers.

The program is entirely the first of
its kind locally.
Capacity Building
Objectives:

To provide an overview of the political
landscape in Oman

To provide with best practices and previous
experiences (from Oman and abroad) in
campaign management

To empower participants with basic
analytical, planning and budgeting skills.

To enable participants to draw, with the
help of expertise, an outline of their plan.
Capacity Building
Phase 1: Campaign and Design,
Management and Budgeting
(6-8 November 2009)
Phase 2: Candidates and Media
Relations
(3rd -5th February 2010)
Women Participants on Elections Training
visit Majlis A’Shura (23rd March 2010)
Tawasul launched its first Policy Paper
(Integrity in Elections),
The paper deduced several
recommendations on Elections
System in three areas
 The Electoral Culture
 Election Integrity Strengthening
Measures
 Election Efficacy Guarantees
Omani Majlis A ’Shura: A
Normative Analysis
(April 2010)
Phase 3: It’s Campaign Time
(6-8 May 2010)
Phase 4: Dialogue on Women in
Politics in the Gulf Region – Kuwait
as a Case Study (8th May 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmg4PJtNkc&list=UUCQDTizGCRZWtxlEhhel8PQ&index=10&featur
e=plcp
Media Forum: Media and Elections
campaign 25th-26th September 2010
Symposium on Partnerships for
Society: Majlis A’Shura, Media and
Society
Buraimi 17th May 2011 and Muscat 17th May 2011
Launching Majlis A'Shura Website
September 10 2011
Women’s Campaign Consultant
Development Program
September to October 2011
Symposium on E-Campaigning:
Electronically Connected
September 18 2011 Muscat, September 21 2011 Salalah
Wider National Media Coverage
 Interaction and Engagement through
social Media
 Dissemination of information and
resource on election

Media and Social Media
1 woman elected in Majlis Ashura
 77 women ran for elections out of
3000

2011 Elections
25 candidates who participated in the
program scored high in
all Governorates
 Impact-Largest number of women
candidates
 Recognition of women who did not
win
 Rules of the game changed and
women no longer seem to be
uninterested in politics.

Women Performance in Elections
Area
Muscat
2
women
Ranking of
women
Votes Number of Candidates
2 1887
5
Elected Votes
124
9
2246
Seeb
9
women
Won
2 626
9
251
10
233
57
1481
Sohar
4
women
7 1005
14 90
21 19
30
2040
Examples of Women Performance
•The Evolution of Candidates
•Wider National Media Coverage
•National Ownership and Debate
Impacts
•1 Elected member of Majlis Ashura
•14 women appointed in State Council
•2 women Ministers and 1 at the rank
of minister
•2 Undersecretary
2012 Omani women in decision
making positions
Thank You