H.E. Lt. General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior took part on Tuesday morning, at the Rocco Forte Hotel, Abu Dhabi, in the closing meeting for the special follow-up committee for compensation and rehabilitation of children who had previously participated in camel racing in the UAE.
H.E. Lt. General Al Shafar assured that the UAE did not spare any effort to close this file once and for all, in an honorable way through various means praised by all relevant international organizations, following a series of practical and concrete actions characterized and a transparent, fair and just way of addressing this issue. He also stressed the UAE’s methods inspired by inherent social values and established civilized heritage in applying law and addressing social and humanitarian issues.
Al Shafar noted that the UAE has exerted serious efforts and practical steps in this regard over many years. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, God rest his soul, was the first person to show concern for child jockeys. He gave strict directions against using under age children in camel races, settled their situation and deported the young ones at his own expense. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE followed in his steps in caring for child jockeys, thus issuing Law 15/ 2005 which bans the use of children under 18 in camel races. “In line with our higher leadership’s attention and the continuous follow-up by H.H. Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the Ministry of Interior was entrusted with the task of implementing this law in collaboration with other relevant authorities in the country. His highness issued several decisions to establish committees and teams to supervise the implementation of law number 15 and to provide children with care, shelter, health and social care before sending them back eventually to their home countries” H.E. Lt. General Al Shafar added.
He pointed out to the agreement signed between the UAE and the UNICEF to rehabilitate former child jockeys and integrate them back in their societies by establishing projects in their home countries in all health, social and educational fields. These projects also aim to develop their societies and improve their lives.
H.E. Lt. General Al Shafar said that the committee has undertaken the task of compensating and rehabilitating the children who previously participated in camel racing within the UAE, in order to develop a work plan in collaboration with all partners. The commit