Camel Racing Sport and Young Jockeys - Article Example

Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Camel Race – Young Camel Jockey Introduction Leisure time is spent in different ways. One the commonest way that is preferred is through sports. There are a variety of sports that individuals are fond of depending on the cultural background; as it defines their practices. Camel race has been practiced for many decades. It is a port that has especially expounded and grown in the Middle East. Dubai has become a tourist destination for those people interested in watching the camel races. This sport is widespread through the United Arab Emirates and the countries found in the region. (University of Michigan 235) This paper seeks to examine the issues and controversy arising as a result of using these very young jockeys. It aims at finding out the parties responsible and the reactions to use of these young jockeys. The paper will also examine, in depth, the role of the government and the international society in matters surrounding this dilemma. The paper also seeks to analyze the legal and business factors surrounding the issue. This will help in the formulation of possible solutions to this outstanding ethical issue. The paper will also explore the stakeholders in this dilemma, how they are affected and the consequences in regards to the matter. History of the camel racing sport Camel racing is a traditional sport for many of the countries in the Middle East. It is a pass time activity that has grown over the years. From the time when it began, camel racing became a reality through the use of camel jockeys to control the camels. It was not until recently when human rights organizations protested against the use of young jockeys that the sport is enabled through the use of robots. Camel racing is held in the desert. Specifically, it is held in Al-Hij in Dubai. This is because the town is isolated. As such, there is enough space to enable the race to take place. Camels are able to race at a speed of approximately 60km/h. the camel races are especially held during the winter season. The race takes place between the months of October and April. As a traditional practice, camel racing was held only during festivities like weddings. However, this has changed with the building of customized tracks throughout the UAE. It is no longer an informal practice but has become a luxurious leisure time activity. It has been a tourist attraction that many people around the world travel to witness. The camel races have become national events attended by the presidents and other leaders in the UAE. The events are marked by awards given to the jockeys and the camel owners. They are given gifts which include luxurious cars, gold swords and cash prizes. The races are held in Abu Dhabi and at Nad Al Sheba Camel Race Course in Dubai City. The Issue or Dilemma Controversy rises in regards to the young jockeys that are used to ride the camels. This is given the fact that these boys are as young as four years. The greatest danger posed is the risk that these young boys are exposed to during these races. In the past years, these young boys were usually drawn from within the United Arab Emirates. However, with the tremendous developments and economic growth experienced in the region, parents and society at large began understanding the value of education. This implied that the young boys who would usually be trained to be jockeys were now enrolled in schools. However, this did not imply that the camel races came to an end. (Paulo 78). As a result of these developments, the camel owners began trafficking young boys from other nations. Particularly, the young boys were drawn from countries such as Sudan, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan among others. This made the international society to intervene as there were extreme cases recorded of child trafficking. For example, a case was reported involving a family that was ravaging in poverty to an extent that they sold their son for $3 when he was only 2 years old. This is an indication of the moral decay that was as a result of the celebrated camel races. The main concern is the fact that these children are subjected to very high risks with no compensation at all. There have been instances where these young jockeys have been run over by the camels. Some end up with severe bruises while others have even succumbed to death. In addition to this, the prizes that these young jockeys are warded when they win the races are taken away by the camel owners. It was not until 2003 that a law was passed in regards to the issue. The law stipulates that jockeys must meet a minimum age of 15 years and must weigh over 45 kilograms. Graph representing distribution of number of young camel jockeys in the UAE against years 2002 to 2005 The government reaction The UAE government has been criticized for it continuous assumption of the baby trade. This is because despite the fact that they attend these races and see the young jockeys controlling the camels, they do not do anything about it. They do not even seek to find out whether these children benefit from the awards that they win during the races. In 1992, the Defense Minister was recorded saying that thy value the camel race because it is a part of their heritage. He also noted that that they do not value the race on the basis of the economic gain. This is an indication of the neglect of the pending issue of violation of children’s rights. (International Labour Office 236) The UAE immigration officers and police also put a blind eye to the issues surrounding the baby trade. They do this since this trade serves the rich oil dealers in their countries. This trade can only come to an end if the countries holding the races enact laws to the effect that immigration of underage children is prohibited. This would ensure that such young boys are not denied their right to life through the risks posed during the races. The issues surrounding the violation of children rights continue to expand as even the reporters in these nations fear probing into the depth of the matters at hand. This is because of the powerful rich men behind the baby trade. In 2003, a law was enacted to that effect. However, it only states that the jockeys should not be under 15 years. Failure to abide to the law poses severe consequences to the person in charge of the jockey. This is because they are liable to serving up to three years in prison amongst other forms of punishments. Evidently, the camel racing involving the young jockeys will continue for as long as the rich oil dealers continue influencing the society. The Public Reaction The issue of the young camel jockeys has remained controversial. This is because human rights groups have been at the forefront in trying to deal with this problem. The British Antislavery International has tried intervening through using its diplomats to no avail. However, a step seem to have been taken with the passage of the law that indicates that camel jockeys are not meant to be less than 15 years of age. It has been the hardest time to the jockey since recruiters do not check on their age before the recruitment. These whole processes has made the people around the world to become very harsh with this act since the jockeys are taken as slaves and treated badly. In this way, children under the age of 18 years and below should not be allowed to engage themselves to these races which are very well known to be dangerous to the jockeys. For example, the British antislavery has proposed and introduced some policies which govern the jockey or rather children who are at the age of 18 years and below to not participate in these races which occur to be dangerous and harmful to them. This trade can easily be stopped and end if the countries which receive or entertain this trade take into consideration by checking and control the issues concerning the visas entry to the children who are less than 18 years and also authorize the department which deals in the immigration and emigration. There are several groups that through the British diplomatic channel and receiving which has made the government of the United Arab Emirates to introduce laws that will protect the children rights to children which are below 11 of age and to enable and facilitate them to join in their education instead of engaging into racing activities. The UAE government has prohibited the racing of children of 11 years and the policies set says that the jockeys should be of adult age and during the racing processes they should wear protective cloths and helmets to protect them against dangers that may occur during the race. The solutions It sounds illegal for a government which accounts on the trade of children as jockeys for entertainment purposes. Trade of children in the UAE has become a usual thing and has been common in the city and in various regions around the UAE state. Laws in regulations should be set to govern the children right and to even prohibit the slave trade of children. Children trafficking should not also be allowed so as to minimize the slavery of children. The camel racing should be done by people who are mature enough to protect during dangers of racing such as falling when racing and injuries during racing. To the people who engage in racing, it should be a major factor to use and wear protective clothing during the racing processes so that to minimize the dangers of injury and other dangers. To avoid children trafficking in the United Arab Emirates, parents who involve in the trade of children should be offered with employment or ways that will offer them some source of earning so that they do not engage in the trade of children which is seen to be done at a very low cost. Jobs opportunities should be introduced to the needy families which involve in children trafficking which on the other hand will help in the changing of children lives such that when parent earn through jobs they will educate their children and cases of children trade will end completely since the cause of children trade is poverty among parents. Developed countries should come together to stop the children trade in the Unite Arab Emirates and introduce a powerful law that will protect children right and emphasis on the children education to the countries which offer children for trade. Human trafficking should be an illegal act and should be prohibited in the UAE countries and for the media; they should be allowed to freely air these illegal acts so as to end these children trade acts. Progress was recorded in regards to the issue of young camel jockeys in the UAE in the year 2005. This was achieved through an agreement between the UAE government and UNICEF to the effect that the jockeys were repatriated. The government agreed to disburse funds amounting to US$2.7 million so as to reintegrate the young children back to their countries. Antislavery International has confirmed to the International Labor Organization that the UAE is abiding to the stipulations of the laws passed in 2003 and 2005. This is because there are no cases of jockeys below the eleven years. The UAE was the first group of countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to enact laws that stipulated the rightful age of the children to be trained as young jockeys. This is an illustration of the steps that the government is willing to take to curb the problem of violation of human and children’s rights. Business analyze Trade has improvised businesses in the UAE such that children are traded for a very low price such that children are promised better jobs and yet they are used as slaves in the camel racing. This has become very frequently to the UAE country and children are given out at three dollars and it has become a low price to the parent and they do this trade desperately in need of money to sustain there needs, fifty to twenty camel usually participate in the racing and each camel is owned by one person. These owners of the camels always expect to be winner in the competition and the jockey are pressured a lot so as to attain the first position. In the first position one is usually granted the privilege of attaining a gold medal which means the position one will earn a lot of money compared to the second and the third and so forth. To the owners who attain the gold in this race are given a lot of money and on the other hand they discriminate the jockey which sound unfair and improper in the UAE. The jockeys are discriminated and are left not with a choice of struggling with this hard life of injuries and dangers without any payments. Owner of the camels earn a lot in these races and they do not have any expenses such as maintained of their camel or any thing but for them is to do business and not assist the children or rather the jockeys in feeding them and shelter them. In this case, business has become frequent in the states of UAE and other countries such that business occur at the time of trading between parents and receivers of the sold children, such as the camel owners and in the other case is where the camel owners are gain or when they attain gold medals for instance gaining wealth and riches in the camel racing. Legal analyze There are various cases that are very essential in the process of protecting children against these issues of trafficking and trade among children. Government should come up with policies that will help in the ending of these acts and they should be taken in to consideration. Human trafficking and trade has abused mostly the laws which prohibit child and human trafficking. All these cases have led to violation of human rights and children rights. Human rights in this case means that, human are taken and treated as slaves and they are forced to work under difficult conditions with no enough food that is they are not provided with basic needs. Human beings are very important in the world and are not meant to be abused and treated like slaves. They should be treated well as human and not as animal. They should be offered with jobs so that they cater for the children but not to be exploited through buying their children as slave trade. For the children they should be not be used as vessels of work, they should also not be taken as slaves for peoples work. Children are the future people and they should not be treated as workers instead they should be taken care off and be educated to become better people in the future. The government of UAE should introduce and improvise laws that will prevent and avoid children labor and work. This will help children in their education since they will get enough time in their education. Parents should also be informed and taught on the significance of education for children so that children can attain fully education. These issues of education should be taken in to consideration and it should be compulsory to children. Strong laws and regulations should be excised to prohibit human and children rights. (Jenny and Stuart 123) . Institutional environment Apart from being under age, the children taken to become camel are not only kept under poor working conditions but overworked. The dignity of these young and innocent people is abused in the name of helping them. Most of the children brought in the institution, are from poor families who are referred to as the working class. As a result of the suffering they are put through, they become vulnerable and results to crime. After all, there is hardly any way out as the owners of means of production have thoroughly dominated the economy. The poor continue to be poor while the rich become richer. It is accepted by all sociologists that for a society to function effectively, there should be a form of social order that promoted equality. Laws that govern a state should be for the sole interest of the state. However, there seems to emerge a group that is always leading. Organizations such as OSHA that is meant to investigate these mistreats in the company are blinded by the success of these companies. This could be as a result of the power that they solely possess. According to the sociologist researchers, it is evident once a group of people has political power, they end embedding all ownership rights of property to themselves and the working class is left at their mercy. Organizations are using their wealth and power in abusing the others. (Hugh 456) Discussion/account of relevant facts and events, circumstances and stakeholder involved Stakeholders in this case, are the people involved in conducting the transactions of trading these young kids. At an early age, a child is forced to depend on him/herself. Racism is the factor that influences this organization to abolish children of other race. The prescriptive approach believes that universally, morality is achievable by all societies, and that all people may attain ethical principles just by following a strong course of action. Prescriptive theories of morality put forward rules and standards by which all must follow. The type of abuse that needs to be looked for is physical, sexual, emotional and neglect which is practiced by many parents. Anything that results in a child’s feelings of well being and her safety being jeopardized should be a signal that all is not well. Before any more abuse is encountered, certain identification of the problem needs to be addressed. Most of these children are denied the right to be in school or even live with their family members. In this case, children tend to develop a negative attitude in life and aggressiveness. These attitudes are signs that a child is being abused, is becoming emotionally bankrupt. This is because the normal care of a mother toward the child is missing. (Jenny and Stuart 56). Discussion of relevant ethics and corporate governments and related issues In the last few decades, determined attempts have been concentrated on the elementary prevention of child abuse. Elementary prevention of the abuse of a Child is specified as any intervention that helps to stop child abuse before it happens. This kind of intervention must be put into place in many degrees before it can be noted as being seen as a favorable outcome. These degrees of intervention for help for the child include implementing a range of services by setting up a program that makes the child feel valuable, ensuring punishment is not violent, treating any neurological or psychological problems and ensuring the child has the basic needs so as to feel at ease at school with her peers. The child’s parents must also be helped if they have any drug or alcohol problems, if they don’t understand how to discipline their child also educate them about their child’s development. (Leo-Gesellschaft & Görres-Gesellschaft 56) The stakeholder Parents are also stake holders in this inhuman practice. Some of them are paid while others are blackmailed. This stops them from reporting these matters, and instead they prefer to continue trading their children to the camera race organization. Some parents become concerned when there is talk of any kind of assessment for their child. They consider that assessing their child for strengths or weaknesses may perhaps show them up as not being “good parents.” What they don’t realize is how crucial it is to assess a child so as to allow for optimal care of that child. Each day people assess their own strengths and weaknesses and allow for changes to take place, so would a parent need to do anything less for their child or even not allow the school to ascertain whether or not a child is doing as well as should be expected? Success does not just come to a person. Most times it takes a plan of action to make it happen. Prescriptive parenting aims to give to the child the best it can be given so as to make sure that the child’s ultimate goals in life can be met so a child gets the support and guidance and a knowledge that his/her parent’s care about what he/she is doing so as to make a bright and happy life for themselves in the future. (Delabere 102) The cause and consequences of the issue For the different societies in the world, there exist different social classes. These are based on what each group owns and what it is therefore, in control of. The conflict was persistent due to the ownership of the means of production which included land, labor and tools. Hence, the conflict was between the owners and the non-owners of the various means of production. As a result, there was a rise of the two social classes; the working class (less powerful) and the ruling class (more powerful). Their main objective is to maximize profits and as such, they result to minimization of the labor costs as much as possible. As a result, the working class is angered by the low wages and is ultimately tired of the exploitation by the persistent means of production owners. Eventually, the working class tends to alienate itself from the overbearing production process. The working class will therefore, try anything in its power so as to overthrow the owners who have continuously been exploiting their labor. Consequently, the camel race uses children since they don’t ask for huge salaries, yet they can be forced to work even past working hours. As such, their needs are well catered for in the formation of the laws that govern them. They not only have economic control, but also political control. It is then that the working class realizes that they are trapped in their course for freedom and equality. (Hobbs, McKechnie and Lavalette 231). The tools, practices and policies Camel farms value the young kids as the best jockeys in the field of camel racing. The young boys are at the age of 4 to 10 years. They prefer the young kinds because they are small and light in weight. This release weight to camel and make it run very fast. The demand for the young kinds grew to many firms due to competition. The issue of child trafficking came in Dubai. The young kids in Dubai could not be participating in camel racing because they have no time. The children are in schools and also they parents could not allow them. They know the danger their children would encounter. They take advantages of the young kinds from the poor countries. The issue of poverty in many countries makes the parents to take their kids in this farm. Some parents also look employment in this farm, thus they agree to take their children. The source of income is what their aim from this field. Poverty is major concern in many countries. This make parents, people to engage themselves in the field without considering the consequences. The consequences of the young children would face in this field are as follows. The parents thought of only benefiting from the income which might be too little than the dangers they engages they child in. The young kids were often wounded and disabled and at times crushed to death during the risky races. They were frequently underfed in order to keep their burden down so that the camels could ride faster. They have no time of break and there are skilled for long hours in a very hot weather. At times some were compressed and sexuality abused. They were also spilt from their parents and were strained to grow up in country where the people, language and civilization were completely unknown to them. The kinds are no longer going to school or learn applied skills to survive outside of the camel firms. Your interpretation and analysis of issues The emergence of such a group could be as a result of efficiently and effectively using power. It is also a prodigious possibility that the group owns the means of production and is hence in control. As a result, crime becomes on the rise as the working class, though wrongfully, fights for its right. Generally, the level of crime is highly propagated by the fact that in our societies there exist classes and as a result, there result conflicts between the different classes. The ruling class, which is more powerful, uses the law to cover for their evil deeds that go unpunished. On the other hand, the working class is always punished for any crime because they are just mere subjects. These crimes are majorly as a result of the capitalism system which only dehumanizes the individuals who have hardly any power and are therefore, helpless. The only solution to all the suffering so that everyone will feel that they are receiving equal treatments is the capitalism system being scrapped off. This way, crime will be largely decreasing. For as long as people are not treated equally, criminal behavior will never cease since there will always be one group of people that will be being exploited. (Britannica Educational Publishing 117). Conclusion Camel tracing in Dubai has grown over the years as a tradition that the people have become attached to. It has grown to be part of their entertainment and is done during each and every festival. Despite the fact that the races are extremely entertaining, there some issues surrounding the camel jockeys who get involved. Controversy has been on the rise in regards to the sport due to the use of young boys aged between 6 and 7 as camel jockeys. These young children are preferred because of their weight ensuring that the camels due not tire fast. It is time that governments around the world came together so a to ensure that children and human rights are respected. They ought to intervene in the problems that children trafficked to the UAE are facing. This will ensure that such suffering as is inflicted on the young jockeys becomes a thing of the past. Works cited Leo-Gesellschaft Österreichische & Görres-Gesellschaft. Anthropos, Indiana; Zaunrith'sche Buch-, Kunst- und Steindruckerei, 1999. Delabere Pritchett Blaine An encyclopaedia of rural sports: New York; Longman, Orme, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1840. Britannica Educational Publishing. Persian Gulf States: Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates The Rosen Publishing Group, 2011 Hobbs Sandy, McKechnie Jim, Lavalette Michael Child labor: a world history companion ABC-CLIO, 1999 Jenny Walker, Stuart (CON) Butler, Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula Lonely Planet, 2010. Houlihan Barrie Sport and society: a student introduction, New York; SAGE, 2008 Hugh Hindman The world of child labor: an historical and regional survey M.E. Sharpe, 2009. International Labour Organization Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations International Labour Organization, 2006 University of Michigan Child trafficking for camel races: a perspective from Pakistan Michigan; Centre for Research and Social Development, (CRSD), 2004. David Paulo Human rights in youth sport: a critical review of children's rights in competitive sports, London; Routledge, 2005 International Labour Office Application of international labour standards 2008 (I) International Labour Organization, 2008 Read More