UAE delegation visits Mauritania to follow up on Camel Jockeys' Rehabilitation Project

Led by Brigadier Nasser Al Awadhi Al-Minhali, Chairman of the Special Committee for Rehabilitation of Camel Jockeys, the delegation's visit demonstrated the UAE's committed support to the Mauritanian government for effectively combating child abuse.

In 2005, the UAE government banned the employment of children as camel jockeys, and signed an agreement with UNICEF to repatriate former camel jockeys to their home countries and reintegrate them into their original communities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sudan and Mauritania, where 500 children will benefit from the program).

The UNICEF programme also prioritizes the protection of children from trafficking and abuse, providing them with education and basic social services for alleviating poverty.

Christian Skoog, the UNICEF representative in Mauritania, received the delegation and praised the UAE government for banning child trafficking in the country and supporting the integration of the former camel jockeys into mainstream society.

Expressing his satisfaction over the programme's outcomes and the successful partnership with the UAE, Skoog said: "On behalf of the UNICEF, I laud this valuable initiative between the UAE and Mauritania, and reconfirm our gratitude for what has been achieved so far."

Brig. Nasser Al Menhali thanked UNICEF for its efforts in implementing the programme, and reaffirmed the UAE government's firm determination to work with UNICEF for the restoration and protection of the Mauritanian children's rights.

The UAE delegation also held a project review meeting with Her Excellency Fatima Bint Khatri, Mauritania's Minister for Women's Promotion, Childhood and Family.

Following a presentation by ALsalec Ould Aljirb, Director of Childhood at the Ministry of Women's Promotion, Childhood and Family, highlighting the claims procedure for compensating the former camel jockeys, the delegation was led on a tour of a child protection centre, prior to meeting senior officials of the Minors' Police Force.

Earlier, the UAE delegation was received by His Excellency Dahmane Ould Beyrouck, Governor of Nouakchott per interim, who expressed his satisfaction over the benefits of the programme on underprivileged families in the region.

In conjunction with UNICEF, the UAE has already achieved significant success in rehabilitating child jockeys in Sudan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and integrating them into normal social life.