Sentience in Animal Welfare: A Growing Recognition
The Oxford Conference of 2019
In 2019, the Society and Oxford University convened a conference to explore the growing recognition of sentience in animal welfare. This conference brought together leading experts from academia, industry, and the animal advocacy community to discuss the latest research on animal sentience and its implications for animal welfare policy.
The Better Deal for Animals Coalition
Also in 2019, the Better Deal for Animals coalition was formed, comprising over 40 animal welfare charities. This coalition advocates for a better deal for animals in the UK, including recognition of their sentience and the implementation of policies that protect their welfare.
Shifting Regulatory Landscape
In recent years, there has been a shift towards recognizing sentience in the regulation of animal welfare. This is reflected in the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which explicitly recognizes animals as sentient beings, and in the Animal Welfare Act of 2023, which requires animal welfare to be considered in the development of government policy.
Global Recognition of Animal Sentience
In addition to the UK and EU, many other countries around the world have animal welfare laws that recognize sentience. These laws vary in their scope and enforcement, but they all reflect a growing understanding of the importance of animal sentience and the need to protect animals from harm.
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