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On November 6th, the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion which calls on the Canadian government to support (in principle) the development of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW). A campaign has been spearheaded by the World Society for the Protection of Animals over the past few years to convince governments worldwide to support this declaration. The motion was passed unanimously with the support of all parties.
The CFHS is a member of WSPA and has actively supported their campaign, as have some CFHS member societies. More than 75,000 Canadians have signed petitions in support of the UDAW and more than 25,000 individual letters have been sent to Members of Parliament and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
This November 6th decision by Parliament is a big step but is only the first step. Over the next few years the actual details of the UDAW will be negotiated and finalized by key countries. Canada must then agree to endorse the final wording of the UDAW.
Although it might not seem earth shattering to have a universal declaration on animal welfare, it is significant that governments around the world recognize the importance of animal welfare. The debate on this issue in the Canadian Parliament was very encouraging with MPs from all parties speaking in support of animal welfare.
You might want to write a letter congratulating your MP on this initiative. Click here if you’re not sure who your MP is.
