Oman

The Sultanate of Oman is a hereditary monarchy. Sultan Qaboos al-Said has ruled since 1970. The sultan has sole authority to enact laws through royal decree, although ministries draft laws and citizens provide input through the bicameral Majlis Oman (Oman Council). The Majlis is composed of the Majlis al-Dawla (State Council), whose 83 members are appointed by the sultan, and the elected, 84-member Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Council). Elections for the newly created "provincial councils" were conducted in a transparent manner in December 2012 when citizens elected 192 citizens to seats in 11 provincial councils. The 29-member Council of Ministers, selected by the sultan, advises him on government policies. Authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. The principal human rights problems were the inability of citizens to peacefully change their government; limits on freedom of speech, assembly, and association, including restrictions on citizens and civil society from associating with foreign governments; and societal discrimination against women. Other concerns included lack of independent inspections of prisons and detention centers, restrictions on press freedom, instances of domestic violence, infringements on independent civil society, and instances of foreign citizen laborers placed in conditions of forced labor or abuse. Security personnel and other government officials generally were held accountable for their actions. The government began a wide-sweeping crackdown on corruption, with multiple cases going through the court system at the end of the year.