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.
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.