Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 02:45 am
The UK Centre for Animal Law (A-LAW) is delighted to announce the launch of Animal Law Day on 22 July each year to commemorate the bicentenary anniversary of Britain’s first national animal welfare law, the ‘Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822’. Animal Law Week will run from 18-22 July and will culminate in Animal Law Day on 22 July.
A-LAW Chairperson, Paula Sparks, said: “The law has a huge impact on the lives of animals. It can both serve to legitimise harms to animals for purposes that benefit humans and conversely, protect animals from gratuitous cruelty and legislate for their welfare as kept animals. Law also has a huge potential role in achieving a paradigm shift for animals, to halt and reverse species loss and to achieve policy objectives such as sustainability and climate goals, that align with animal welfare objectives. We are pleased to announce this initiative to raise awareness about the importance of animal law and public policy and the need to continue discussion about how to make the law work for animals.”
Professor Jane Holder, Director of Research Studies for the University College London Faculty of Laws, added: “This initiative draws attention to the growing strength of the animal justice movement and the growing need for legal education to pursue an animal justice agenda. The next generation of lawyers and law makers will need to approach law critically and creatively and push for much needed legal reform in all aspects of law relating to animals. Animal Law week contributes greatly to this educational aim, marking both progress in the law to date, but also the need for future legal action.”
Marcia Hyde, Head of the Animal Welfare Law Team at 42 Bedford Row Chambers, stated: “The law reflects society’s values and protects and promotes what we collectively consider to be the fair and just way to be in the world. Perceptions and sensitivities about what animals mean to humans and how we think animals should be treated are changing rapidly. This welcome initiative from A-Law is a real opportunity for lawyers from different legal disciplines to recognise and promote animal welfare issues present within those disciplines.”
A-LAW is encouraging lawyers to celebrate and raise awareness of animal law with their own events and activities and the charity will also be hosting a series of animal law focused activities, fundraising and educational outreach over the course of the week with special emphasis placed on Animal Law Day.
Frances Allen, Head of the Animal Rights Law Team at Goldsmith Chambers, concluded: “Future generations will look back at this time in history as the turning point in the fight for the recognition of legal rights for nonhuman animals.”
The UK Centre for Animal Law (A-LAW) is a charity that exists to promote knowledge and education about the law relating to animal protection, and the more effective enforcement of legislation relating to animals. For further information, please visit http://alaw.org.uk/.
On Friday 14 July, 2023, the UK Centre for Animal Law (A-LAW) announced the launch of Animal Law Day, which will take place on 22 July each year to mark the bicentenary anniversary of Britain’s first national animal welfare law, the ‘Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822’. A-LAW Chairperson, Paula Sparks, highlighted the significance of animal law in protecting and improving the lives of animals, as well as its potential role in achieving policy objectives such as sustainability and climate goals.
A-LAW is encouraging lawyers to celebrate and raise awareness of animal law with their own events and activities and the charity will also be hosting a series of animal law focused activities, fundraising and educational outreach over the course of the week with special emphasis placed on Animal Law Day.
Professor Jane Holder, Director of Research Studies for the University College London Faculty of Laws, said: “This initiative draws attention to the growing strength of the animal justice movement and the growing need for legal education to pursue an animal justice agenda. The next generation of lawyers and law makers will need to approach law critically and creatively and push for much needed legal reform in all aspects of law relating to animals. Animal Law week contributes greatly to this educational aim, marking both progress in the law to date, but also the need for future legal action.”
The UK Centre for Animal Law (A-LAW) is a charity that exists to promote knowledge and education about the law relating to animal protection, and the more effective enforcement of legislation relating to animals. For more information, please visit http://alaw.org.uk/.
