c. What necessary steps is Oman taking to ensure that all children of Omani women on their territory can access rights on an equal basis, especially in relation to access to education, healthcare, and residency? d. Could Oman provide statistical information on the scope or extent of childhood statelessness in the country? Deprivation of nationality 16. Pursuant to Articles 20 and 21 of the Nationality Law, Omani citizenship shall be withdrawn if a person joins a group or party or organisation supporting principles or beliefs that harm the interests of Oman. Further, the Nationality Law provides that Omani citizenship shall be withdrawn if a person works for a foreign country in any capacity whatsoever, whether inside or outside Oman, and failed to leave such position at the request of the Omani Government within the specified deadline, or if they work for an enemy country that operates against the interests of Oman.10 With the Nationality Law Royal Decree No. 38/2014, the Minister of Interior has full power to withdraw nationality of Omani citizens without the related duty to inform the individual and without the obligation to provide the person concerned the right of legal recourse.11 Various cases, have shown the wide variety of activities that are judged to be contrary to the state’s interests, which can result into statelessness if safeguards are not in place. 17. For example, in May 2009 the former Vice President of Yemen, Ali Salem Al Beidh, who had been granted asylum in Oman in 1994, and subsequently gained Omani citizenship, had his citizenship revoked following an announcement that he planned to resume his political career. 12 Omani citizens engaged in the organisation of pro-democracy protests in 2011 onwards, have been subjected to proxy measures that amount to stripping of their citizenship such as withdrawals of passports and identity cards.13 Moreover, there is an increasing number of undocumented persons, as human rights activists that are being stripped of identity documents. This includes social media activists and activists that are in touch with human rights organisations. While this is not synonymous with deprivation of nationality, the consequences are similar and should be subject to the same restrictions and safeguards as citizenship deprivation measures. 18. Nationality deprivation creates a social rift and increases the risk of statelessness. From the day his/her Omani nationality is revoked, the person becomes a foreigner and will be obliged to obtain a residence permit as a foreigner under a citizen sponsorship or obtain a work permit in order to have lawful residence in the country. Due to the foreigner status, there is also a risk of being deported from the country. The impact of the deprivation of nationality extends to all services and privileges that are restricted to citizens only, such as health care, housing services, jobs in the public domain and retirement benefits. 19. It is unclear whether children are subjected to automatic derivative loss of their nationality if their parents are revoked of their nationality or whether the risk of derivative loss is heightened.14 In any 10 Nationality Law, Article 20. https://ochroman.org/eng/2019/08/statelessness-2/ Oman strips Yemeni dissident of citizenship for returning to politics, Gulf News, 22 May 2009 [United Arab Emirates]; Oman revokes citizenship of former Yemen Vice President, Yemen Post, 22 May 2009 13 Supra note 11 14 Pursuant to Article 6 of the Royal Decree No. (3/38) Law on the Organisation of the Omani Nationality, If a father’s nationality changes, his children may cease to be citizens without consideration of the mother’s nationality. This can happen at father’s request and if father’s new country of nationality also grants the children nationality. While this sees on voluntary renunciation, no information is provided on the impact parent’s (involuntary) loss of nationality has on children. For more information, see Equality Now, The State We’re In: Ending Sexism in Nationality Laws, available at: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/equalitynow/pages/301/attachments/original/1527597970/NationalityReport_EN.pdf?1527597970. 11 12 4