The Committee is concerned that the State party maintains a reservation with respect to article 14, notwithstanding the modification of that reservation. The Committee is also concerned about a general reservation stating that the provisions of the Convention should be applied within the limits imposed by the material resources available.

The Committee commends the State party for the marked decrease in the number of girls giving birth. However, the Committee is concerned about the limited knowledge about reproductive health, and the social and cultural barriers that prevent young people and adolescents from seeking reproductive health information and services, which leads in particular to teenage pregnancies, as well as the insufficient awareness of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. To improve the situation, the Committee recommends to promote age-appropriate sexual education and family planning targeted at adolescents and the wider community, and to establish programmes on drug and substance abuse and on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, including as a part of the compulsory school curriculum.

The Committee notes that the State party is developing a strategy on children with disabilities, which includes a database. It also welcomes the information that the State party has implemented a number of programmes to promote, in each governorate, the access of children with disabilities to health, education and social services and other initiatives. However, the Committee is concerned about the low number of children with disabilities enrolled in schools, and the high illiteracy rate among children with disabilities as well as the fact that children with disabilities are subjected to discrimination, neglect and abuse, and are not effectively integrated into all areas of social life. To improve the situation, the Committee recommends to ensure that continuing training is provided for professionals working with children with disabilities, such as teachers, social workers and health, medical, therapeutic and care personnel, that guidelines and training materials are developed, and that monitoring mechanisms are in place regarding the performance of care providers.

The Committee commends the State party for its significant improvements in health infrastructure and services, including universal immunization coverage, and for its efforts to improve comprehensive health services to children. The Committee also commends the reduction in infant mortality rates, child mortality under the age of five, malnutrition-related diseases and iodine deficiency disorders. The Committee further commends the awareness-raising campaigns to promote sound nutritional practices and healthy living.
To guarantee every child the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, the Committee recommends to continue targeted interventions to prevent anaemia and the stunting, wasting and undernourishment of children, including the promotion of proper infant and young child feeding practices, continue to raise awareness of nutrition issues, and promote overall nutrition education in all parts of the State party. Oman should also continue to improve maternal care, including by ensuring the quality of the services, and raise awareness among women of the importance of antenatal, perinatal and post-partum care, of sound nutritional practices for pregnant women, including taking iron and folic acid supplements during pregnancy to prevent and treat anaemia, and of optimal birth spacing to protect the health of mothers and children.

The Committee is concerned about the insufficient attention paid to mental health care for children, the oversight mechanisms to protect children in mental health facilities, the inadequate number of outpatient facilities for children, and the insufficient training for primary care staff.
Therefore, the Committee recommends that the State party strengthen the quality of available services and programmes of mental health for children and in particular take measures to ensure an adequate number of specialists in children’s mental health and ensure adequate facilities and outpatient services for psychosocial rehabilitation. It also recommends that the State party ensure training of all professionals working with children to identify and address mental health problems.

The Committee welcomes the information that the State party has taken measures to address the economic exploitation of children. However, the Committee is concerned about the lack of data on the prevalence of child labour in the State party, as well as the lack of a comprehensive definition of the worst forms of child labour.
The Committee urges the State party to ensure that all children are protected against economic exploitation and to ensure that the prohibition of the employment of children below the age of 15 applies to every child, including migrants and children of migrants, without exception. In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party take measures to prevent children from being economically exploited and take appropriate measures to address the problem of children begging in the streets, including prosecution of parents, guardians or caregivers who coerce or force their children to engage in street begging.

The Committee is also concerned about the information that children have been imprisoned for begging and are held together with adults, as well as the lack of information on prison conditions in the State party and the insufficient information on personnel with specialized training in juvenile justice.
Therefore, the Committee urges the State party to bring its juvenile justice system into line with the Convention, and, in particular, it recommends that the State party adopt a holistic and preventative approach to addressing the problem of children in conflict with the law and the underlying social factors, with a view to supporting children at risk at an early stage, including by expanding intervention programmes, vocational training and other outreach activities. Also, in cases where detention is unavoidable, Oman should ensure that adequate facilities exist for children in conflict with the law, and that their conditions of detention are compliant with international standards, including with regard to access to education and health services.

The Committee takes note of the information provided during the dialogue with the State party on programmes to assist families in need, and notes the fact that the State party has made great progress in reducing extreme poverty. However, the Committee is concerned that some families in situations of poverty still face food insecurity and lack appropriate assistance. Therefore, the Committee recommends that the State party intensify efforts to provide appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in situations of poverty, including by strengthening the system of family benefits, child allowances and other services.

Concluding observations on the third and fourth periodic reports released on 14 March 2016.