Animal Rights Proclamation

This text has been drawn up by La Ligue Internationale des Droits de l'Animal.

Paris, 15 October 1978

Article 1
All animal life born is entitled to a dignified animal existence.

Article 2
Humans may not assume the right to exterminate other animals or to exploit or abuse them in any inhuman manner whatsoever. It is the obligation of humans to put their knowledge to use for the welfare of the animal.
All animals have the right to attention, care and protection from humans.

Article 3
No animal may be subjected to cruelty or ill treatment.
If an animal needs to be killed, this should be done painlessly and as speedily as possible.

Article 4
All wild animals have the right to freedom in their natural environment, whether that is land, air or sea.

Deprivation of freedom, also for educational and research purposes, is a violation of this right (humans should also not act as 'forwarding agents').

Article 5
Animals who, throughout time, have lived in a human environment (such as agricultural pets) have the right to live and develop at their own pace, in adapted living conditions.
All human interference in this pace or these conditions, for profit making purposes, is a violation of this right.

Article 6
To abandon an animal is a cruel and despicable act.

Article 7
All animals kept for sport (such as homing pigeon and equestrian sports) have the right to reasonable limitation of the duration and intensity of their work (doping), and also to the required amount of nourishment and rest.

Article 8
Animal experiments which lead to physical or psychological suffering, are not in keeping with animal rights, whether or not the research is of a scientific, medical, commercial or any other nature.
In this context, alternative methods need to be developed and applied.

Article 9
Animals that are used for the food industry need to be bred, transported, kept and killed without any suffering whatsoever (such as abattoirs and vivisection).

Article 10
No animal may be exploited for the amusement of humans (circus).
Exhibitions of and performances using animals should actually be prohibited.

Article 11
Each deliberate killing of an animal is biocide, i.e. a crime against life (anglers, hunters).

Article 12
Each mass killing of wild animals is genocide, i.e. a crime against the species. Contamination of the natural environment leads to genocide.

Article 13
Dead animals should not be processed to form animal fodder, but should be either buried or cremated. Violent scenes, involving animals, should not be shown in films and on television (wild west), except when for educational purposes.

Article 14
Representatives of animal rights movements should have the right to a say at all government levels.
Animal rights, just as human rights should be afforded legal protection.

End of proclamation.