OT? The more I learn about arab culture the more convinced I become that they are a very sick and backward culture, I assume they are muslim as there are not many other religions around those areas.
UAE declares an end to using child camel jockeys
2 August 2002
The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) announcement to end the use of children as camel jockeys and making it a punishable offence is welcome but must be implemented.
On 30 July, Head of the Camel Racing Federation, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zaid al-Nahayan, announced from 1 September, jockeys under 15 and those less than 45 kilos would be banned.
Though a positive announcement, using children as jockeys has been illegal since 1980 under the UAE's Federal Labour Code. In 1993, UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan banned this practice. And since the early 1990s the UAE Camel Jockey Association has had a rule stating that employing a child under the age of 14 or weighing less than 45 kilos is illegal. It is also illegal under international law.
"The UAE Government's moves are a welcome step demonstrating it recognises this practice is a serious problem. But for its measures to be effective, there must be clear moves to protect children from this abuse and penalties against offenders need to be enforced, " Mary Cunneen, Director of Anti-Slavery International says.
Because these laws have not been implemented the problem of child trafficking and using children as camel jockeys has openly continued. Children as young as four have been trafficked from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Africa to be used as camel jockeys. Because they are too young to hold on they are tied on to the camels. To keep them light, they are deprived of food and water before a race; they are kept in harsh conditions and treated with brutality. Child camel jockeys have been seriously injured and some have died as a result of their treatment.
Because it is so dangerous for children, earlier this year the International Labour Organization called for the minimum age for camel jockeys to be 18 years. It is vital that the Government of the UAE introduce regular unannounced inspections to identify and release any child who is currently being used as a camel jockey. That anyone responsible for trafficking or employing underage jockeys is prosecuted under existing laws. And that laws are introduced, and enforced, that prohibit employing children under 18 as camel jockeys.
oneworld.org
Geneva, 27-31 May 2002
The trafficking of child camel jockeys to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
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