Born to Ride or Exploited Children: Mongolian Child Jockeys and International Human Rights Law

Abstract

Horseracing has been a prominent part of Mongolia’s history and culture for centuries during which time it has featured prominently in festivals and ceremonial events. Thanks to Mongolia’s traditionally pastoral lifestyle, Mongolian children were said to be ‘born in the saddle’ however, in the twenty-first century, the number of child jockeys has expanded rapidly and the conditions they experience have changed as tourism has fueled increasing demand for more racing. Regulation and enforcement in horseracing have not kept pace with this change, and what little accountability there is often erroneously placed on riders and their families, rather than horse owners and trainers who exploit loopholes in the rules and rural poverty for their own benefit. Protecting child jockeys requires a careful balance of respecting and preserving important cultural heritage practices while also resisting the pressure to excuse risk and children’s rights violations in the name of ‘culture’. The revenue generated by tourism and horseracing provides an opportunity for systemic change that acknowledges the new business model of Mongolian horseracing and leverages its value to address rural poverty and establish procedures to better regulate horseracing. Through this model, the rights of child jockeys can be protected while preserving the tradition of horseracing and using it to improve quality of life in the community.