Causecast

by SARAH NELSON, Contributing Writer

Canadian Members of Parliament crossed party lines, last week, in a unanimous decision to adopt multi-partisan motion encouraging their government to support the development of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. The landmark decision is a significant milestone in the campaign to further the global protection of animal rights. If the Canadian government signs on, they will become the first North American nation to issue an endorsement.

The Declaration is part of a global campaign spearheaded by the World Society for the Protection of Animals. WSPA has been working to promote the welfare of animals for more than 25 years and is active in more than 150 countries. Their primary efforts are focused on areas of the world where measures to protect animals are limited or non-existent. Worldwide adoption of the Declaration would create an agreement among all individuals and nations that recognizes the needs of animals and calls for an end to all forms of animal cruelty.

The campaign for a high-ranking endorsement has been a two year battle for WSPA Canada, and their imminent success is largely due to the outpouring of public support and critical grass-roots activism. More than 75,000 Canadians signed petitions in support, and sent 25,000 individual letters to Members of Parliament.

The next step for Canada is to secure a meeting between WSPA officials and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to confirm the government’s formal support and an official endorsement of the Declaration. In addition to the pending endorsement from Canada, WSPA’s campaign has landed crucial support from the European Union, announced earlier this year.

The campaign is far from over, but momentum is building. Ultimately, the Declaration For Animal Welfare seeks an official recognition from the United Nations, which in turn, will command the attention of all nations. U.N. endorsement will allow WSPA to use the UDAW to inspire lasting change on all levels – international, regional and local by:

• encouraging governments to improve their national animal welfare legislation
• providing a basis for animal welfare legislation in countries where it does not currently exist
• encouraging those industries which use animals to keep welfare at the forefront of their policies
• mobilizing and uniting the animal welfare movement behind a common goal
• providing a useful framework to link humanitarian development and animal welfare agendas
• inspiring positive change in public attitudes towards animal welfare.

Get the facts on why animal welfare matters and check out who endorses the UDAW.

Sign the UDAW Animals Matter to Me Petition and then use your tech savvy typing to spread the word.

Photo by TheGiantVermin, flickr.