UAE drafts tougher laws to combat human trafficking. (camel jockeys??)

Abu Dhabi: The UAE is trying to stop human trafficking by introducing stricter laws, including DNA tests to prevent the entry of abducted young camel jockeys.

Major General Saif Al Sha'afar, Assistant Undersecretary for Security Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, on the sidelines of a two-day symposium on Combating Human Trafficking, said the ministry has prepared a draft law to regulate the use of camel jockeys. The symposium was organised by the Police Officers Training Institute in coordination with the Police Research Centre.

"After a call from international human rights organisations, the Ministry of Interior has prepared a draft law in collaboration with the Federal Camel Racing Association to further regulate the use of jockeys in camel races," he said.

"Major General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, has given instructions that camel jockeys will take DNA tests to determine their real parents since many children have been stolen from poor families abroad and smuggled into the UAE. A fake set of parents in the UAE claim the child is theirs for a quick buck."


http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/Nation2.asp?ArticleID=121973

"racy" story! :D

I saw a long documentary about this on a German TV channel some time ago.
The UAE has a long camel race tradition. The races attract huge crowds and like everywhere else, the spectators gamble and support their favorite celebrity.
The breeders have created excellent medical facilities to cater for the animal which has undergone the transition from farm animal to racing thoroughbred.
Cars may have replaced animals as a means of transport, but today the camel is more speed boat than ship.

Unfortunately the jockeys are usually only about 12 years old, they are bought (or rented) from poor families in other Arabian countries.
Apparently it's a lot harder than riding on the back of a horse, it's dangerous and these boys make a lot of money for their masters... most of the jockeys are certainly treated with dignity and they can support their families at home, but on the other hand there are enough young adults in the Arabic world who would love to earn the money and glory.

If they eliminate this, this exciting sport might even become popular in the west. Who knows. B-)