Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Post

I'll be presenting my latest research, “Individuals vs. Species: Balancing Singular Needs with Collective Conservation in Environmental Law", at the UK Animal Law Conference in end May in Birmingham. Below an intro to my article and links to the conference program & registration. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐯𝐬. 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 Rimona Afana Environmental law is disproportionately focused on species conservation while disregarding the suffering of individual nonhuman animals. Crimes against countless individuals are permitted under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora if their species is not threatened. A species-centric approach also defines the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement. This fixation on species obscures crimes against trillions of sentient beings. Nonhuman animals are not primarily species, but individuals seeking to survive and thrive, with distinct needs and a right to not be harmed. Yet, under domestic and international environmental laws, as long as species are conserved, individuals can be legally displaced, abducted, confined, tortured, killed. We see that happening to the victims of animal farming, a legal anomaly, and to the victims of wildlife trade, legal and artificially distinguished from wildlife trafficking. Only extreme forms of animal abuse are condemned; most others are allowed, culturally and legally. This disregard for life and sentience turns nature into a site of extraction and crime. Instead of a species-centric approach, sounder criteria for determining rights, particularly for wild animals, are considering: 1) how the animal experiences suffering, physically and psychologically, in the context of its (ab)use; 2) how its murder or exploitation impact other individuals of its species living now as well as intergenerationally; 3) how its removal from its habitat impacts other beings, so an ecosystems perspective. My suggested criteria are not easy to assess; an expansive approach to the nexus between environmental law and animal law ties our fight for animal rights to our ignorance: we know little about species and even less about individuals. I examine how several environmental treaties embrace this species-centric approach and why an individual-centred framework is preferable but challenging, practically and ethically. My hope is to identify how environmental law can adopt a more honest and compassionate approach to nonhuman animals. Speakers & Program: https://lnkd.in/ecTYeujn Registration: https://lnkd.in/ejgCxN2t

The blog section of our website is updated regularly with helpful insights into animal advocacy. Recently, we have featured careers related to animal law and individuals who have succeeded in this area. The case studies provide inspiration and insider knowledge on how to enter this path. Our blog can be found on our website here- https://lnkd.in/gxXeyDNq #Blog #AnimalAdvocacy #Career #Advice #Inspiration 

Announcing a new report: "A Summary of Expert Opinions Regarding Courtroom Animal Advocacy Programs" Courtroom Animal Advocacy Programs (CAAPs) are being evaluated by states to enhance the interests of justice and victim-animals in criminal courtrooms. The Brooks Institute facilitated a cohort of dedicated animal law and animal protection practitioners and academics who assisted in preliminary nuanced evaluations of CAAPs. That process led to a research project by Che Green of Cultivate Insights to interview thirty-six diverse stakeholders and experts concerning benefits and issues pertaining to CAAPs. The survey resulted in a peer-reviewed report that assesses the current state of Courtroom Animal Advocacy Programs and explores some of the most important observations and questions surrounding this potential tool for animal advocacy. The Brooks Institute is grateful to the CAAPs taskforce and workgroup participants, many interviewees, peer-reviewers, and other contributors, whose combined efforts with Che Green as lead author and editor produced this report. To view the full report, visit: https://lnkd.in/eD3ukF6p #theBrooksInstitute #AnimalLaw

For animal law expert Elizabeth Ellis, this problem is at the heart of animal testing and research. Read more in her book, "Australian Animal Law" https://bit.ly/4dsYu2s

Imagine a world where animals are safe and loved, recognized as sentient beings, and their interests are respected. 🧡 At the Center for Animal Law Studies, we imagine this world all the time—and we’re committed to creating it. Working together, your investment in our mission helps us educate the next generation of animal law advocates to advance animal protection across the globe. 🌎 Learn how your legacy gift can help to build a better future for animals through our Animal Law Legacy Program: https://lnkd.in/gMA6vYCh #animallaw #Animalprotection #legacyplanning

"Australian Animal Law" examines how the law helps to construct the relationship between human and non-human animals, including through its silences and omissions. https://bit.ly/4dsYu2s

Tonight at 6:00 WEBINAR on Animal Rescue Law. A fascinating discussion with expert speakers including the first woman vetinarian to treat gorillas in the wild in Uganda. More information and link to register is below

I’ll be sharing “𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐯𝐬. 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐀 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰’𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲” at the UK Animal Law Conference. Below a summary of my paper. Environmental law focuses on species conservation while disregarding the suffering of individual animals. Crimes against individuals are not prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora if their species is not endangered. A species-centric approach also defines the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement. National/regional frameworks such as the Endangered Species Act and the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats are similarly deficient in rights/welfare provisions for individual animals. This fixation on species obscures crimes against trillions of sentient beings. While, amid the current extinction crisis, protecting species may seem more pressing than valuing individuals, nonhuman animals are not primarily species, but individuals seeking to survive and thrive, with distinct needs, and a moral (alas, not legal) right to not be harmed. Yet, as long as species are conserved, individuals can be legally displaced, abducted, confined, tortured, and killed. We see that happening to the victims of industrial animal farming, a legal anomaly, and to the victims of wildlife trade, legal and artificially distinguished from wildlife trafficking. Only extreme forms of animal abuse are outlawed; most others are allowed, culturally and legally. This disregard for life and sentience turns nature into a site of extraction and crime. Instead of a species-centric approach, sounder criteria for conferring rights, particularly to wild animals, are considering: 1) how the animal experiences suffering, physically and psychologically, in the context of its use and abuse; 2) how its murder or abuse impact other individuals of its species living now as well as intergenerationally; 3) how its removal from its habitat impacts other beings, so an ecosystems perspective. My suggested criteria are not easy to assess; this ties our fight for animal rights to our ignorance: we know little about species and even less about individuals. I show how environmental conventions embrace this species-centric approach, how necropolitics shapes biodiversity, and why an individual-centred framework is preferable but challenging, practically and ethically. Taking a victim-centred perspective, my hope is to identify how environmental law can adopt a more honest, compassionate approach, in particular to sentient wild animals. Part of my aim here is also to explore how animal rights law, centred on the micro (individual animal suffering) can be reconciled with environmental law, centred on the macro (species and ecosystems survival).

I'll be giving an online Introduction to Animal Law for the AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF PARALEGALS INC on June 25 at noon Eastern. Details and registration: https://lnkd.in/eunyg-uj #CLE #AnimalLaw #webinar #continuingeducation

I look forward to talking about one of my favorite subjects -- Animal Law!