Animal rights vary greatly among countries and territories. Such laws range from the legal recognition of non-human animal sentience to the absolute lack of any anti-cruelty laws, with no regard for animal welfare .
As of November 2019, 32 countries have formally recognized non-human animal sentience. These are: Austria , Australia , Belgium , Bulgaria , Chile , Croatia , Cyprus , the Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , the Republic of Ireland , Italy , Latvia , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , New Zealand , the Netherlands , Poland , Portugal , Romania , Spain , Slovakia , Slovenia , Sweden , Switzerland , and the United Kingdom .[citation needed ] It has been proposed that the United Nations (UN) pass the first resolution recognizing animal rights, the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare , which acknowledges the importance of the sentience of animals and human responsibilities towards them.[citation needed ]
The Great Ape Project is currently campaigning to have the United Nations endorse a World Declaration on Great Apes , which would extend to non-human great apes the protection of three basic interests: the right to life, the protection of individual liberty, and the prohibition of torture.[citation needed ] Six countries currently ban the use of great apes for scientific research , and Austria is the only country in the world to ban experiments on lesser apes .[citation needed ]
In 2009, Bolivia became the first country to banish animal abuse and harm in circuses.[ 1] The United States of America is the only country in the world that has banned killing horses for consumption ,[citation needed ] and India have banned killing cows for consumption in some of its states .[citation needed ]
Cow is the national animal of Nepal and cow slaughter is a punishable offense as per the prevailing law.
In 2014, the Jain pilgrimage destination of Palitana City in Indian state of Gujarat became the first city in the world to be legally vegetarian . It has banned buying and selling meat, fish, and eggs, as well as related jobs, such as fishing and animal farming.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5]
Global animal rights maps [ edit ]
Food production
World laws on battery cages
Nationwide ban on battery cages
Some subnational bans on battery cages
Nationwide phaseout of battery cages in progress
Battery cages legal
No data
World laws on beak trimming
Nationwide ban on beak trimming
Some subnational bans on beak trimming
Beak trimming legal
No data
World laws on chick culling
Ban on all chick culling
Grinding chicks illegal, gassing chicks legal
Planned ban on all chick culling
Chick culling legal, no ban planned
No data
World laws on foie gras production
Countries and regions that ban foie gras production
Main foie gras-producing countries and regions[ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
World laws on stunning animals during ritual slaughter
Stunning not required
Post-cut stunning required
Simultaneous stunning required
Pre-cut stunning required
Ritual slaughter banned
No data
Legal status of whaling
IWC states that ban whaling (since 1986)
IWC states with aboriginal whaling
IWC states with commercial whaling
Non-IWC states with aboriginal whaling
Non-IWC states with commercial whaling
Non-IWC states without whaling
Clothing and cosmetics
World laws on cosmetic animal testing
Nationwide ban on all cosmetic testing on animals
Partial ban on cosmetic testing on animals1
Ban on the sale of cosmetics tested on animals
No ban on any cosmetic testing on animals
Unknown
1 some methods of testing are excluded from the ban or the laws vary within the country
Entertainment
World laws on bullfighting
Nationwide ban on bullfighting
Nationwide ban on bullfighting, but some designated local traditions exempted
Some subnational bans on bullfighting
Bullfighting without killing bulls in the ring legal (Portuguese style or 'bloodless')
Bullfighting with killing bulls in the ring legal (Spanish style)
No data
World laws on cockfighting
Nationwide ban on cockfighting
Nationwide ban on cockfighting, but some designated local traditions exempted
Some subnational bans on cockfighting
Cockfighting legal
No data
World laws on dog fighting
Nationwide ban on dog fighting
Some subnational bans on dog fighting
Dog fighting legal
No data
World laws on dolphinariums / marine mammal captivity
Nationwide ban on dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity
De facto nationwide ban on dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity due to strict regulations
Some subnational bans on dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity
Dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity are currently being phased out ahead of a nationwide ban
Dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity legal
No data
Laws banning the use of animals in circuses
Nationwide ban
Ban on import/export
No ban
Unknown
^ certain animals are excluded or the laws vary internally
World laws on goose pulling
Goose pulling discontinued; live goose pulling until 20th century
Dead goose pulling; live goose pulling banned in 20th century
Dummy and dead goose pulling; local bans on dead goose pulling in 21st century
Dummy goose pulling; live goose pulling banned in 20th century, dead goose pulling banned in 2019
No data
Council of Europe convention maps [ edit ]
European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (1968 & 2003)
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
Denounced in favour of 2003 revised convention
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (1976)
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter (1979)
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979)
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (1986)
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (1987)
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
Principal laws on animal rights [ edit ]
^ "The perfect storm: How the Bolivian Ban on Animal Circuses was won" . Animal Defenders International . Retrieved 4 November 2019 .
^ "Culture / society | Worldcrunch - Real news. True sources. Seriously international" . Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2019 .
^ "In India, The World's First Vegetarian City" . IndiaDivine.org . 7 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2017 .
^ "Jain monks want a ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food" . The Independent . 6 July 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2017 .
^ van Popering, Ruben (2015). Jain Vegetarian Laws in the City of Palitana : Indefensible Legal Enforcement or Praiseworthy Progressive Moralism? . Linköping University, Department of Culture and Communication, Centre for Applied Ethics.
^ "Note de conjoncture Palmipèdes gras" [Economic outlook for fatty waterfowl]. ITAVI (in French). March 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2024 .
^ "Foie gras: pleasure, or murder most fowl?" . Men's Vogue . September 2005. Archived from the original on 27 June 2008. (Article on one page )
^ "Ahora PACMA vota por mí" [Now PACMA votes for me] (PDF) . PACMA (in Spanish). 23 May 2024. p. 30. Retrieved 28 September 2024 . En la actualidad, solo cinco países europeos siguen produciendo foie gras: España, Bélgica, Francia, Hungría y Bulgaria. En el resto de países de Europa, su producción ha sido ilegalizada debido a su extrema crueldad. [Currently, only five European countries still produce foie gras: Spain, Belgium, France, Hungary and Bulgaria. In the rest of the countries of Europe, its production has been outlawed due to its extreme cruelty.]
^ "Circus bans" . Stop Circus Suffering . Retrieved 3 November 2019 .
^ "OIE standards on animal welfare: OIE - World Organisation for Animal Health" . www.oie.int . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Algeria: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Animal Cruelty Index - Algeria" . Voiceless Animal Cruelty Index. 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2020 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "ANIMAL WELFARE IN OIE MEMBER COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES IN THE SADC REGION" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Argentina | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Australia | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ "Austria: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Azerbaijan: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Belarus: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "European Commission - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - 934th Council meeting Agriculture and Fisheries Brussels, 23 March 2009" . europa.eu . Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Anonymous (17 October 2016). "Animal welfare" . Food Safety - European Commission . Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ "Zakon o zaštiti i dobrobiti životinja" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2019 .
^ "Brazil | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Animals Matter campaign goes from strength to strength" . 20 April 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ "Animal laws in the world at national level - GlobalAnimalLaw.org" . www.globalanimallaw.org . Retrieved 7 November 2019 .
^ "Canada: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Chile: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "China: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Colombia | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Costa Rica makes animal welfare a presidential matter" . 21 April 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ "Costa Rica | Animal Legal & Historical Center" . www.animallaw.info . Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ "Denmark: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Egypt: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Egypt: Lack Of Animal Laws, Animal Abuse, And Pet Cruelty - Global Animal" . 14 May 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2020 .
^ "Animal Cruelty Index - Egypt" . Voiceless Animal Cruelty Index. 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2020 .
^ "Penal Code of Eritrea, 2015" (PDF) . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Ethiopia: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "28/7/08 - Fiji to support Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) - Fiji Government Online" . 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2019 .
^ "PROTECTION OF ANIMALS ACT 1954 - Laws of Fiji" . www.laws.gov.fj . Retrieved 31 October 2019 .
^ "France: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Germany: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "SPCA Hong Kong.. - Animal Cruelty and HK Law" . www.spca.org.hk . Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ "Hong Kong e-Legislation" . www.elegislation.gov.hk . Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ "India: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Indonesia | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Iran: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Italy: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Japan: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Penal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan - "Adilet" ILS" . adilet.zan.kz . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Kenya: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Lebanon's Animal Welfare Law" . legallaw.ul.edu.lb.
^ "Animal welfare law in Lebanon" . animalslebanon.org.
^ "Malaysia: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Mali Penal Code" (PDF) .
^ "THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT 2013" (PDF) . Retrieved 6 May 2020 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Mexico | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Mongolia update Legislative Developments" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Morocco: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Dog meat Sausage Scandal Grips Morocco as Owners Fight Law Banning Aggressive Breeds" . 5 May 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2020 .
^ "Myanmar | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "New Zealand: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Netherlands | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Niger: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "The Criminal Law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (2009" (PDF) . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Noway - Cruelty - Norwegian Animal Welfare Act (2010) | Animal Legal & Historical Center" . www.animallaw.info . Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ "Pakistan: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ EL CONGRESO DE LA NACION PARAGUAYA SANCIONA CON FUERZA DE LEY. "LEY Nº 4840 DE PROTECCION Y BIENESTAR ANIMAL" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019 .
^ "Peru | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "RA 8485" . lawphil.net . Arellano Law Foundation. Retrieved 21 October 2019 .
^ "Philippines | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 31 October 2019 .
^ "Poland: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Romania | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Russia: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "MEWA Prohibits 8 Practices of Animal Cruelty in Saudi Arabia" . www.mewa.gov.sa . Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^ "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act" . Seychelles Legal Information Institute . Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2020 .
^ "South Africa | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Korea | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Spain | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Sweden: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Switzerland: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Tanzania: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Thailand | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Turkey | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Ukraine: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "United Kingdom: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "USA | World Animal Protection" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "Uruguay | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Venezuela | World Animal Protection" . api.worldanimalprotection.org . Retrieved 30 October 2019 .
^ "Vietnam: country profile" . Worldanimalprotection.org. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
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