ULAANBAATAR – The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Mongolia expresses its concern over the Government’s proposed decision to abolish Order No. 57 of 2019, which prohibited horse racing including preparatory races between 1 November and 1 May. This decision, announced by the Deputy Prime Minister during the Government Cabinet press meeting on 29 January 2025, effectively shifts the responsibility to local authorities to organize cultural and sports events, presumably including horse races.

The UN underscores the serious risks this poses to child jockeys and reiterates its longstanding position on protecting children from hazardous activities. The United Nations deeply regrets learning this news which is not in the best interest of the children. This may pose a fatal risk to the lives and well-being of children who are recruited or will be recruited as jockeys.

As a Member State of the United Nations that has ratified many of the core international human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Mongolia commits to adhering to internationally recognized principles and standards in protecting and promoting children’s rights. During two consecutive decades, Mongolia’s ratification of ILO Convention No. 182 assures that all children of Mongolia now have legal protection against the worst forms of child labour that may harm children’s safety, health, or morals.

These international standards have been reflected in domestic legislation in Mongolia, including the Labour Law (2021) prohibiting the worst forms of child labour and Law on the Rights of the Child (2016) and Law on Child Protection (2024) which prohibits violence and exploitation of children.

The UN Country Team in Mongolia has earlier issued statements on the matter on 20 December 2019, and on 2 July 2021 based on the reports and observations UN human rights experts. We also sent the statements to the President, Prime Minister, and Parliament Speaker of Mongolia. Noting that horse racing is inherently dangerous to the health and safety of children, the UN Mongolia urges the Government to take, as a matter of urgency, the necessary measures in law and in practice to ensure that no child under 18 years of age is recruited as a horse jockey, at any time of the year.

The UN calls upon the Mongolian people and relevant stakeholders, including national and local governments, parents, guardians, horse owners and trainers, business enterprises, caregivers and the public, to respect Mongolia’s commitments under international human rights law. The UN in Mongolia remains committed to supporting progressive efforts by the Government of Mongolia, non-state actors, civil society organizations, and individuals to safeguard the rights of the children and to create a better world and future for all children of Mongolia.