The United Arab Emirates has proposed a fund to save child camel jockeys. This project is targeted at compensating child camel jockeys from four countries – Sudan, Mauritania, Pakistan and Bangladesh. These children have been involved with UAE camel races in the past.
The fund will provide the facility of independent claims to the children. In addition, the fund will open a savings account for each child wherein his earnings will be deposited. The respective collected amount would be transferred to the child when he turns 18 years old. The fund will also include compensation for any physical or emotional injury the child jockey may have gone through.
Back in 2005, the UNICEF had entered into an agreement with the United Arab Emirates with an aim to send child camel jockeys back to their homes. In the same year, the UAE banned children less than 18 years old from participating in camel races as jockeys. In April this year, the agreement with the UNICEF was renewed for two more years. It is estimated that the UAE has repatriated about 1100 child camel jockeys till date.
