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.
Overview 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, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) is a proposed global initiative designed to acknowledge animal sentience, prevent cruelty, minimize suffering, and establish welfare standards for animals. It applies to various categories, including farm animals, pets, animals used in scientific research, working animals, wildlife, and those involved in recreational activities.
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. 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.
In 2009, Bolivia became the first country to banish animal abuse and harm in circuses. The United States of America is the only country in the world that has banned killing horses for consumption, and India has banned killing cows for consumption in some of its states.
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.
Global animal rights maps
Food production World laws on battery cages
World laws on beak trimming
World laws on chick culling
World laws on foie gras production
World laws on stunning animals during ritual slaughter
Legal status of whaling
Clothing and cosmetics World laws on cosmetic animal testing
Entertainment World laws on bullfighting
World laws on cockfighting
World laws on dog fighting
World laws on dolphinariums / marine mammal captivity
Laws banning the use of animals in circuses
World laws on goose pulling
Council of Europe convention maps
European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (1968 & 2003)
European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (1976)
European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter (1979)
Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979)
European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (1986)
European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (1987)
Principal laws on animal rights General legislationCountryRecognition of animal sentienceRecognition of animal sufferingAnti-cruelty laws meet OIE standardsAny laws against animal crueltySupport at the United Nations -unenforced - varies internally - support from various internal departments - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Food -unenforced - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Food (China responsible for foreign affairs) - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Animal Welfare Board - mental health recognized - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture -unenforced - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - unenforcedUnknown - support from the Minister for Resources - varies internally -unenforced - domesticated animals only - mental health recognized - mental health recognized - support from various internal departments - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture - support from the Minister for Agriculture -unenforced - some animals excluded - support from various internal departments - mental health recognized - support from various internal departments - varies internally - varies internally - support from various internal departments
See also Human rights List of animal rights advocates List of international animal welfare conventions Overview of discretionary invasive procedures on animals
Notes
References
External links Animal Protection Index