UAE set to ban use of kids as camel jockeys |
The News (28 March 2005 ) ISLAMABAD: History is about to be made in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Middle East, as the use of underage children as camel jockeys will be banned on March 31. "On 30th of March, it will be the final round of the use of underage children as camel jockeys. After this strict laws are going to be imposed not to use of underage children, and violators will be sent to jail," said officials of the Abu Dhabi-based Camel Racing Federation according to a message received here from Dubai on Sunday. "I am very proud, the 31st of March will be one of the happiest and most successful days of my life when new laws will come into force in the UAE to ban the use of underage children as camel jockeys," said Ansar Burney in the message e-mailed to this correspondent. Burney called the world attention towards the plight of these children used as camel jockeys and slave labourers in private jails around the UAE. According to the message, the UAE leadership said it was grateful for the efforts of Burney, who opened their eyes through a video documentary televised on an American TV channel last September. The documentary showing the miserable lives these children live and the torture inflicted on them was watched by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Interior Minister Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE leaders invited Burney and his wife Shaheen Burney to the UAE, and assured them of their government’s full cooperation in wiping out this menace from the UAE. They asked Burney to help in eliminating the use of underage children in camel racing. A few days later, a rehabilitation centre was established in Abu Dhabi under the supervision of Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International on the orders of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The first of its kind in the entire region, the centre was set up to provide accommodation, medical treatment, food, education and a safe environment to the children, who were to rescued from private jails in the UAE. After the meetings of Burney, the UAE leaders announced earlier this month that a new law would be issued on March 31 prohibiting jockeys less than 16-yearold from participating in camel racing. The UAE foreign minister said the law would stipulate that the body weight of a camel jockey should not be less than 45 kilograms while his age, according to the passport, should not be less than 16 years. He called on camel breeders employing children less than 16 as jockeys to return them to their countries, warning that violators of the law would face legal action. In his comments, Burney said that similar laws were brought in twice earlier but nothing changed. "Nonetheless this time we believe the government is sincere in tackling this issue and it has given us assurance of full cooperation and firm implementation. The country’s ports of entry have already been instructed to ensure that no children less than 16 enter for the purpose of being used as camel jockeys," he said. "However, I am concerned that many children have started going missing, hidden away by their influential owners before the new law comes into force on March 31. The Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International has received reports that some government officials and other influential people have started hiding these children in remote areas of the deserts as well as their own homes. It has also come to our attention that many underage camel jockeys and slave labourers are being smuggled to neighbouring countries where they will be used as camel jockeys," he added. It is believed that there could be as many as 40,000 innocent children aged between one-and-a-half to two years working in this form of labour, and they are mostly from the countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Yemen and Sudan. It is estimated that there are 16,000 active racing camels and around 17 camel racetracks in the UAE. Press Back on your browser to Return
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