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Il Piccolo Museo del Lavoro e dell'Industria

Annotazioni storiche e sociali

"Da qui gli Etruschi..."

Luciano Russo

The "Human" Rights

The Special Rights of the

"Child" [below the Age of 18]

The Rights of All [Other]

"Animals"

The Universal Declaration

of Animal Rights

The "Universal Declaration of Animal Rights" was solemnly

proclaimed in Paris on 15 October 1978 at the UNESCO

headquarters.

What follows is:

- The "Universal Declaration of Animal Rights" as solemnly

proclaimed in Paris on 15 October 1978 at the UNESCO - United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

headquarters

- The "Universal Declaration of Animal Rights" as revised by the

international League of Animal Rights in 1989, submitted to the

UNESCO Director General in 1990 and made public the same year

- The "Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare", initial draft text

arising from The Manila Conference on Animal Welfare 2003 and

The Costa Rica Steering Committee Meeting 2005 for ministerial

conference consideration

- "The Animal Bill of Rights United States of America", an

individual American Citizen's Petition to the United States

Congress

- "The Amsterdam Protocol on protection and welfare of animals",

- PROTOCOLS, C. Protocols, annexed to the Treaty establishing

the European Community, from the text of the Treaty of

Amsterdam amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties

establishing the European Communities and certain related acts,

as signed in Amsterdam on 2 October 1997.

The "Universal Declaration of Animal Rights" as solemnly

proclaimed in Paris on 15 October 1978 at the UNESCO

headquarters.

On this page this first full text of the Declaration in

Italian, English and Swedish.

"The Universal Declaration

of Animal Rights

Preamble

Whereas all animals have rights;

Whereas disregard and contempt for the rights of

animals have resulted and continue to result in

crimes by man against nature and against animals;

Whereas recognition by the human species of the

right to existence of other animal species is the

foundation of the co-existence of species throughout

the animal world;

Whereas genocide has been perpetrated by man on

animals and the threat of genocide continues;

Whereas respect for animals is linked to the respect

of man for men;

Whereas from childhood man should be taught to

observe, understand, respect and love animals;

It is hereby proclaimed:

Article 1

All animals are born with an equal claim on life and

the same rights to existence.

Article 2

1. - All animals are entitled to respect.

2. - Man as an animal species shall not arrogate to

himself the right to exterminate or inhumanely

exploit other animals.

It is his duty to use his knowledge for the welfare

of animals.

3. - All animals have the right to the attention,

care and protection of man.

Article 3

1. - No animal shall be ill-treated or shall be subject

to cruel acts.

2. - If an animal has to be killed, this must be

instantaneous and without distress.

Article 4

1. - All wild animals have the right to liberty in their

natural environment, whether land, air or water,

and should be allowed to procreate.

2. - Deprivation of freedom, even for educational

purposes, is an infringement of this right.

Article 5

1. - Animals of species living traditionally in a human

environment have the right to live and grow at

the rhythm and under the conditions of life and

freedom peculiar to their species.

2. - Any interference by man with this rhythm or

these conditions for purposes of gain is an

infringement of this right.

Article 6

1. - All companion animals have the right to complete

their natural life span.

2. - Abandonment of an animal is a cruel and

degrading act.

Article 7

All working animals are entitled to a reasonable

limitation of the duration and intensity of their work,

to the necessary nourishment, and to rest.

Article 8

1. - Animal experimentation involving physical or

psychological suffering is incompatible with the

rights of animals whether it be for scientific,

medical, commercial, or any other form of

research.

2. - Replacement methods must be used and

developed.

Article 9

Where animals are used in the food industry, they

shall be reared, transported, lairaged and killed

without the infliction of suffering.

Article 10

1. - No animal shall be exploited for the amusement

of man.

2. - Exhibitions and spectacles involving animals are

incompatible with their dignity.

Article 11

Any act involving the wanton killing of an animal is

biocide, that is, a crime against life.

Article 12

1. - Any act involving mass killing of wild animals is

genocide, that is, a crime against the species.

2. - Pollution or destruction of the natural

environment leads to genocide.

Article 13

1. - Dead animals shall be treated with respect.

2. - Scenes of violence involving animals shall be

banned from cinema and television, except for

humane education.

Article 14

1. - Representatives of movements that defend

animal rights should have an effective voice at

all levels of government.

2. - The rights of animals, like human rights, should

enjoy the protection of law."

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The following text of the "Universal Declaration of Animal Rights",

as revised by the international League of Animal Rights in 1989,

submitted to the UNESCO Director General in 1990 and made

public the same year.

"The Universal Declaration

of Animal Rights

Preamble

Considering that Life is one, all living beings having

a common origin and having diversified in the course

of the evolution of the species,

Considering that all living beings possess natural

rights, and that any animal with a nervous system

has specific rights,

Considering that the contempt for, and even the

simple ignorance of, these natural rights, cause

serious damage to Nature and lead men to commit

crimes against animals,

Considering that the coexistence of species implies

a recognition by the human species of the right of

other animal species to live,

Considering that the respect of animals by humans

is inseparable from the respect of men for each

other,

It is hereby proclaimed that:

Article 1

All animals have equal rights to exist within the

context of biological equilibrium.

This equality of rights does not overshadow the

diversity of species and of individuals.

Article 2

All animal life has the right to be respected.

Article 3

1. Animals must not be subjected to bad treatments

or to cruel acts.

2. If it is necessary to kill an animal, it must be

instantaneous, painless and cause no

apprehension.

3. A dead animal must be treated with decency.

Article 4

1. Wild animals have the right to live and to

reproduce in freedom in their own natural

environment.

2. The prolonged deprivation of the freedom of wild

animals, hunting and fishing practised as a

pastime, as well as any use of wild animals for

reasons that are not vital, are contrary to this

fundamental right.

Article 5

1. Any animal which is dependent on man has the

right to proper sustenance and care.

2. It must under no circumstances be abandoned or

killed unjustifiably.

3. All forms of breeding and uses of the animal must

respect the physiology and behaviour specific to

the species.

4. Exhibitions, shows and films involving animals

must also respect their dignity and must not

include any violence whatsoever.

Article 6

1. Experiments on animals entailing physical or

psychological suffering violate the rights of

animals.

2. Replacement methods must be developed and

systematically implemented.

Article 7

Any act unnecessary involving the death of an

animal, and any decision leading to such an act,

constitute a crime against life.

Article 8

1. Any act compromising the survival of a wild

species and any decision leading to such an act

are tantamount to genocide, that is to say, a crime

against the species.

2. The massacre of wild animals, and the pollution

and destruction of biotopes are acts of genocide.

Article 9

1. The specific legal status of animals and their

rights must be recognised by law.

2. The protection and safety of animals must be

represented at the level of Governmental

organizations.

Article 10

Educational and schooling authorities must ensure

that citizens learn from childhood to observe,

understand and respect animals."

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The "Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare", initial draft text

arising from The Manila Conference on Animal Welfare 2003 and

The Costa Rica Steering Committee Meeting 2005 for ministerial

conference consideration.

"The Universal Declaration

on Animal Welfare

Preamble

[The Costa Rica Steering Committee, following on

from the Manila Conference on Animal Welfare,

confirms:]

That animal welfare is an issue worth consideration

by governments.

That the promotion of animal welfare requires

collective action and all stakeholders and affected

parties must be involved.

That work on animal welfare is a continuous process.

A PROPOSAL FOR A DECLARATION ON ANIMAL

WELFARE ARISING FROM THE MANILA

CONFERENCE [ON ANIMAL WELFARE] (MARCH

2003) AND THE COSTA RICA STEERING COMMITTEE

MEETING (NOVEMBER 2005)

RECOGNIZING that animals are living, sentient

beings and therefore deserve due consideration and

respect;

RECOGNIZING that animal welfare includes animal

health [and that veterinarians have an essential role

in maintaining both the health and welfare of

animals];

RECOGNIZING that humans [inhabit] this planet with

other species and other forms of life and that all

forms of life co-exist within an interdependent

ecosystem;

RECOGNIZING the importance of the ongoing work

of the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) in

setting global standards [for animal welfare];

AGREEING that the term [state] includes people and

civil society;

ACKNOWLEDGING that many [states] already have a

system of legal protection for animals, both domestic

and wild;

SEEKING to ensure the continued effectiveness of

these systems and the development of better and

more comprehensive animal welfare provisions;

ACKNOWLEDGING that the humane use of animals

can have major benefits for humans;

AWARE that the "five freedoms

(freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition;

freedom from fear and distress;

freedom from physical and thermal discomfort;

freedom from pain, injury and disease;

and freedom to express normal patterns of

behaviour)"

and the "three Rs

(reduction in numbers of animals,

refinement of experimental methods

and replacement of animals with non-animal

techniques)"

provide valuable guidance for the use of animals;

RECOGNIZING that the provisions contained in this

declaration do not affect the rights of any [state];

Principles of the Declaration

1. The welfare of animals shall be a common

objective for all [states];

2. The standards of animal welfare attained by each

[state] shall be promoted, recognized and

observed by improved measures, nationally and

internationally.

[Whilst there are significant social, economic and

cultural differences between societies, each

should care for and treat animals in a humane and

sustainable manner] [in accordance with the

principles of the Declaration];

3. All appropriate steps shall be taken by [states]

to prevent cruelty to animals and to reduce their

suffering;

4. Appropriate standards on the welfare of animals

be further developed and elaborated such as, but

not limited to, those governing the use and

management of farm animals, companion animals,

animals in scientific research, draught animals,

wildlife animals and animals in recreation."

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"The Animal Bill of Rights United States of America", an individual

American Citizen's Petition to the United States Congress.

"Deprived of legal protection, animals are defenseless against

exploitation and abuse by humans.

Through the 'Animal Bill of Rights', the Animal Legal Defense

Fund is working to show Congress a groundswell of support for

legislation that protects animals and recognizes that, like all

sentient beings, animals are entitled to basic legal rights in our

society.

More than a quarter-million Americans have already signed the

Animal Legal Defense Fund's Animal Bill of Rights.

Sign on your support and speak out to your lawmakers today!"

"The Animal Bill of Rights

United States of America

 A Petition

to the United States Congress

I, the undersigned American citizen, believe that

animals, like all sentient beings, are entitled to basic

legal rights in our society.

Deprived of legal protection, animals are defenseless

against exploitation and abuse by humans.

As no such rights now exist, I urge you to pass

legislation in support of the following basic rights for

animals:

The Right of animals to be free from exploitation,

cruelty, neglect, and abuse.

The Right of laboratory animals not to be used in

cruel or unnecessary experiments.

The Right of farm animals to an environment that

satisfies their basic physical and psychological

needs.

The Right of companion animals to a healthy diet,

protective shelter, and adequate medical care.

The Right of wildlife to a natural habitat, ecologically

sufficient to a normal existence and self-sustaining

species population.

The Right of animals to have their interests

represented in court and safeguarded by the law of

the land."

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"The Amsterdam Protocol on protection and welfare of animals" -

PROTOCOLS, C. Protocols, annexed to the Treaty establishing the

European Community, from  the text of the Treaty of Amsterdam

amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties establishing

the European Communities and certain related acts, as signed

in Amsterdam on 2 October 1997.

"The Amsterdam Protocol

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES,

DESIRING to ensure improved protection and

respect for the welfare of animals as sentient beings,

HAVE AGREED UPON the following provision which

shall be annexed to the Treaty establishing the

European Community,

'In formulating and implementing the Community's

agriculture, transport, internal market and research

policies,

the Community and the Member States shall pay full

regard to the welfare requirements of animals, while

respecting the legislative or administrative

provisions and customs of the Member States

relating in particular to religious rites, cultural

traditions and regional heritage'."

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