Children take over at Muscat International Airport

Muscat, 20 November 2019 – Joining hands to raise awareness on the importance of children’s rights, UNICEF and Oman Airports, supported by the Ministry of Education (MoE), organized a “Children’s Take-over” of Muscat International Airport. Marking the occasion of World Children’s Day and the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 37 children took over key positions across all operations of the airport. From handling baggage claims to assisting with passenger check-ins and inquires, children were provided with an opportunity to be engaged, speak up for their rights and learn of their own individual potential.  Demonstrating their support for all children in Oman and across the world, airport staff joined in by wearing blue as part of the global commitment to the "Go Blue" campaign that accompanies World Children’s Day.  

“UNICEF Oman has marked the 30th anniversary of the CRC with activities throughout the year leading up to World Children’s Day on 20th November by engaging with children and youth, engaging the public and advocating for a re-commitment to children’s rights. This year-long celebration has given children throughout Oman an opportunity to raise their voices and speak up as they ‘take-over,” said Lana al Wreikat, UNICEF Representative to Oman. “The Sultanate has made remarkable achievements with regards to children and scores highly on multiple global indexes. But, globally the children of today are facing a new set of challenges and global shifts that were unimaginable to their parents. Our climate is changing beyond recognition. Technology is transforming how we perceive the world. Childhood overall has changed, and we need to transform our approaches along with it. We still have so far to go to ensure that every child is given their full rights and that their rights are protected throughout their life. It is something we are working hard to achieve, not just on World Children’s Day, but every day.”- 

“World Children’s Day is vital in ensuring that governments, private-sectors, and the wider community remain committed to protecting children’s rights. We are thrilled to be able to participate in this take-over activity with UNICEF Oman and MoE to give children the opportunity to participate in leadership roles. Around the world, children and young people are creating global movements in search of solutions to overcome the challenges they, and their peers, are facing. Children are taking a stand, children are raising their voices – and we are listening,” said Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Airports. “What better a location to share the message with the world, that Oman is dedicated to not only building a better future for all children but also to listening to their concerns, than at its gateway.” 

Celebrations for World Children’s Day and the CRC anniversary extended throughout the Sultanate with landmarks turning blue, including Muscat, Duqm and Salalah Airports, Royal Opera House Muscat, the Children’s Library, Omantel’s new headquarters, Al Mouj’s Marsa Plaza and Port of Duqm to name but a few. Commemorated annually on November 20th, World Children’s Day calls on world leaders to recommit to the objectives set out by the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history, the CRC –  which asserts that every child has rights, whatever their, gender, language, ability or background. Every year, children around the world ‘take-over’ key roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment to give children a role in creating the future they want for themselves, to speak up for their rights and fulfil their potential. 

Having ratified the CRC in 1996, the Sultanate has made rapid progress in advancing children’s rights. Over the past four decades children in Oman have been provided with access to universal education and healthcare, enabling them to live prosperous and healthy lives. In 2018, Oman became the first country in the Middle East to map child well-being and empowerment by developing a comprehensive index that, in turn, allows for more targeted interventions to improves outcomes for all children and leave no one behind.