Seychelles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Animal welfare matters |24 November 2008

WSPA played a key role when the SSPCA launched their National FREE Sterilization Program in 2003, providing equipment, drugs, materials and training.  The Society would not be where it is today, were it not for the ongoing support and practical assistance by WSPA, who have been promoting animal welfare around the world for more than 25 years.  Their vision is of “a world where animal welfare matters, and animal cruelty ends". 
 
Recently, the Seychelles Mission to the United Nations facilitated a briefing by WSPA at the UN, on the importance of animal welfare to sustainable development. The briefing came about as a result of a letter in April 2008 from WSPA's director-general Peter Davies to foreign minister Patrick Pillay, congratulating Seychelles for supporting a proposed Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. The letter also sought to establish contacts between the Seychelles' mission in New York and WSPA.   This in turn led to the Seychelles mission requesting the briefing of the China Group and Group of 77 or G-77. Named after its 77 founding members, the G-77 has grown to embrace 130 developing member states of the UN, making it the largest intergovernmental body within the United Nations.

In his opening remarks, Seychelles' permanent representative to the United Nations Ambassador Ronny Jumeau, said "Seychelles believes that instilling care and concern for the animals in your home, in your backyard, on the farm and in the wild promotes a better understanding of the need to protect and preserve the environment and deeper respect for the property, well being and lives of your fellow citizens,"

The two-hour briefing on "Animal Welfare as a Tool to Advance Sustainable Development" was held in one of the main conference halls at the UN.  Ambassador Jumeau pointed out that while animal welfare was not a subject often mentioned in the halls and corridors of the UN in New York, "it nonetheless is gaining prominence in discussions on, and the planning of, food production and security, sustainable development, the battles against poverty and disease and to save the environment, and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals".

WSPA's director of United Nations affairs, Larry Roeder, gave a presentation on protecting animals from disasters as a tool for disaster recovery and sustainable development.  He also introduced the proposed Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare as an intergovernmental instrument to facilitate linking the animal welfare and humanitarian agendas for mutual advantage.

Ms Andrea Parrilla, head of the Animal Welfare Commission of Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, spoke on animal welfare as it pertains to farm animals while Antonio Silva, WSPA's regional director for Brazil, looked at the positive trade and economic aspects of animal welfare.  The last speaker, WSPA's research director Dr Jennifer Lanier, talked about UDAW as a tool to advance the Millennium Development Goals.

One concern mission representatives raised was the fear of an international agreement on animal welfare being used as a protectionist trade barrier by rich consumer nations against the export of livestock and livestock products by developing countries. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation held its landmark first meeting on animal welfare in Rome in September and October.  WSPA was one of six leading international animal welfare organisations which took part.

Anne Rose-Innes
Vice Chairman, SSPCA