[ad_1]
ULAANBAATAR: At the opening of the traditional Naadam festival in Mongolia, red-cheeked jockeys with brightly colored outfits and helmets raced on the muddy steppe in a 24 km endurance race , whipping with excitement their mounts. The festival held last week highlighted a sport that is a source of prestige in Mongolia, where nomadic families are proud that their children become jockeys and horses
But this practice is also criticized The risk and international organizations have called for the end of what they say to be "exploitation" of vulnerable children, many of whom miss school to prepare for the races, and work long hours to low wages in large barns.
The jockey is only seven years old, although the authorities have tried to enforce it.
Last year, no less than 10,435 children participated in 394 races across the country, according to official figures. More than 600 were thrown off their horses, 169 were injured and two were killed, the figures show.
Some five-year-old children have been injured in previous years' competitions, according to Mongolia's National Center for Research in Trauma and Orthopedics. ]
"Studies show that horse racing violates the right of children to survive, to be educated and to be protected," said Tsolmon Enkhbat, coordinator of the Save the Children program in Mongolia
. She said:
The organizers of the Naadam festival stated that they introduced new safety standards and new methods of registration.
Mongolia's Authority for Family, Child and Youth Development – responsible for the safety of child jockeys – has launched a fingerprint registration system this year to improve regulation and enforce restrictions. ;age.
"With public awareness" Enkhbaatar Altangerel, an official of the authority.
"This is not about prohibition.Although the regulators plan to raise the minimum age for a nine-year-old jockey, Tsolmon of Save the Children said that Mongolia should impose strict limits on racing and this should include the ban on running children in winter and spring, when conditions are the most dangerous
"We are against the participation of children in commercial races. "During Wednesday's endurance test, nine out of 338 jockeys were involved in falls and two were injured." Despite the concerns, many riders and their parents think the risk is worth taking.
"I like to run," said Usukhbayar Otgonbayar, 11, before the race. "This time, I will win."
(Reportage of Munkhchimeg Davaasharav: Edited by David Stanway, Karishma Singh and Neil Fullick)
[ad_2]
Source link
