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Daily Gulf News (Dubai) UAE
Published: 2/12/2004, 11:33 (UAE)
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
Dubai: The first rehabilitation centre for young camel jockeys in Abu Dhabi is in acordance with the government's policy to eliminate the use of underage boys in this sport.
The centre is the first of its kind in the world dedicated to helping the boys after they are rescued by authorities. It will be run by the UAE authorities in association with the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International in Pakistan (ABWTI).
Ansar Burney, a human rights activist and chairman of ABWTI, spoke to Gulf News in an exclusive interview about the plight of these children, what can be done to help them and prevent future abuses.
Burney said the centre, which has been established in Shaikh Zayed Military City in the capital, has all the facilities the children need for a better future, such as healthcare and education.
Doctors, physiotherapists and psychologists will help rehabilitate children rescued from camps throughout the country.
"The children who are rescued from these camps will be kept at the centre for four to eight weeks before being repatriated to their home countries.
"Some 400 children can be accommodated at the centre, which is expected to start its work from Thursday [today]," he said, adding that the UAE Government is taking historic steps to end the problem.
Burney, who has been given a residence visa, also has permission to rescue underage children smuggled into the country.
"During my meeting with Shaikh Mohammad, he told me that the government is committed to resolving the issue of camel jockeys and wants me to work for eliminating this problem," said Burney, who also met Major General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Interior Minister.
Burney, who has repatriated 379 under-age jockeys this year, will also establish rehabilitation centres in Pakistan and Bangla-desh to help repatriated children.
The UAE is the first government with a camel racing industry to ban the use of underage, underweight jockeys.
A law that came into effect on September 1, 2002, bans the use of children younger than 15 as camel jockeys. For a first offence a fine of Dh20,000 is imposed.
A second offence earns a ban from participating in the camel races for one year, while the third and subsequent offences will result in a prison term.
These measures were introduced in an effort to maintain camel racing as a worthy sport that meets its objectives.
The UAE Ministry of Interior is responsible for implementing the rules, in association with the local municipalities, while the country's airports and seaports have also been notified to ensure that no child younger than 15 is admitted when authorities suspect he is being brought in as a camel jockey.
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