UNICEF ASSISTS UAE ON CAMEL RACING ISSUE

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000616 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, DRL (JDMARIA),G/TIP (FASSEFA) STATE PASS TO USTR (A. ROSENBERG) USDOL FOR B. CLATANOFF US MISSION GENEVA FOR NANCE KYLOH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL ELAB MU SUBJECT: UNICEF ASSISTS UAE ON CAMEL RACING ISSUE REF: A. MUSCAT 607 ¶B. ABU DHABI 1604 ¶1. (SBU) The United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) regional office in Muscat has recently been working with the United Arab Emirates in developing comprehensive new legislation that will cover the monitoring and implementation of the announced ban on the use of child camel jockeys in the UAE. UNICEF representative June Kunugi (protect throughout) told POLOFF that it appears that the UAE is aggressively working towards eliminating child camel jockeys, with the new legislation set to be presented to the Emirati legislature and Supreme Council of Rulers by mid-April. (Note: While the law is still being reviewed by the federal Cabinet, new procedures went into effect on March 31. The procedures include a requirement that children of expatriates have their own passports. In addition, camel jockey sponsors have been given two months to complete the paperwork necessary for repatriating the children for whom they are responsible. End note.) Furthermore, in an effort to facilitate repatriation, the UAE is reportedly funding repatriation centers in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and elsewhere to receive the children rescued in the UAE. Reportedly upset with the lack of proper supervision at the centers, UAE officials requested the aid of UNICEF offices in the respective source countries to assist in improving oversight. ¶2. (SBU) When addressing the specifics of the new Emirati regulations, particularly with reference to the UAE-Omani border town of Al-Buraimi, Kunugi said that the new law will ban all camel owners from using children inside or outside the UAE, including any from Oman. If the UAE law tracks with the one in Saudi Arabia, penalties for violations by camel owners will range anywhere from their permanent ban from the sport, to steep fines and possible prison sentences. According to Kunugi, regardless of the exact legislation, having an official body of law upon which to build marks a important step in the elimination of child camel jockeys. STEWART