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Commission moves to protect rights of child jockeys

Graphic: Chief Commissioner Byambadorj Jamsran

The Commission has called on the State to uphold its obligation to not allow children to race as jockeys during the Naadam Festival.

The National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia has delivered a request letter to the Speaker of the Parliament in relation to the draft amended Law on the Naadam Festival.

The request letter recalled that the State has an obligation to not allow children to race as jockeys during the Naadam Festival.

The Commission has consistently emphasised the urgent need to put an end to this practice, which results in death and bodily injury of children. The Commission's recommendations are also supported recommendations from the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and civil society organisations.

The Commission has been successful in having these recommendations included in the Government resolution that prohibits horse racing to take place from 1 January until 1 May each year.

Unfortunately, some parliamentarians who initiated the draft amended Law on the Naadam Festival have included a provision that allows children aged 14 or above to race as jockeys in horse racing from mid-February to mid-March, the period previously prohibited by the Government resolution.

This draft law was discussed during Parliament's plenary session and the Parliament has decided to consider the draft law for the adoption.

The Commission is therefore urging the Speaker of the Parliament to take action to not to include this provision in the draft legislation.

Date 16 December 2019

Source: National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia


Image credits

  1. Chief Commissioner Byambadorj Jamsran - National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia