THE CAMEL KIDS
by Sarah Adil and Saba Khalil, Habib Girls School, Karachi, Pakistan

The issue of the trafficking of children to gulf states for use as
camel jockeys returned in full force during the year. According to a
report in June, published in a US-based newspaper 30 boys a month were
being kidnapped in Pakistan for use as camel jockeys in the UAE. In many
cases, these boys were as young as 4 years. Boys between 5 and 10 years
,and weighing between 10 and 18 kilograms, were according to press
reports most likely to most kidnapped or sold as camel jockeys. The
lawyers for Human rights and legal aid (LHRLA),based in Karachi, also
reported that, specific laws to curb the camel kids menace, also
targeting parents who sold their children, were sought.

According to press reports, at least 40,000 children had been
smuggled to the gulf from Pakistan during the last ten years to provide
cheap labour or to act as camel jockeys.

At least 15 were arrested during the year, mainly at Karachi
airport, while attempting to smuggle children aborad.12 children were
recovered during the process.

The smugglers in many cases included women, who usually claimed the
children were their own.

In many cases, children recused from child smuggler or repatriated
from the gulf, maintained they had been kidnapped from their
villages, at least five children during the year were brought back from
the gulf, in most cases with the assistance of NGOs.

Some press reports in July also stated that were some indication of
children being smuggled to western Europe for adoption, however details
on this were sketchy, with information limited.

RECOMMEDATIONS.

Universal primary education must be guaranteed and access to school
made possible for every child.

Until child labour can be eradicated, the safety of children with
in the work place and their economic rights, must be guaranteed.

Education must also be provided to them at their work places, aimed at
providing them with lite racy and the basic skills required to better
their own futures. Strategies that can lead towards the elimination of
child labour, such as increased employment opportunities for women and
awareness raising among parents, must be introduced.

It is an illegal act and needs attention. The question which arises
in my mind is that why do people take these smugglings take things for
guaranteed and play the lives of this new generation instead of providing
education. Just for the sake of money they take these innocent children
in the month of death.