It’s been a journey. I work for GAIA, a Belgian animal advocacy group that for years has tried to get animal welfare added to the constitution. Today we were present as a supermajority of the senate came out in favor of our proposed constitutional amendment. The relevant section reads:
In exercising their respective powers, the Federal State, the Communities and the Regions strive to protect and care for animals as sentient beings.
It’s a very good day for Belgian animals but I do want to note that:
This does not mean an effective shutdown of the meat industry, merely that all future pro-animal welfare laws and lawsuits will have an easier time. And,
It still needs to pass the Chamber of Representatives.
If there’s interest I will make a full post about it if once it passes the Chamber.
EDIT: Translated the linked article on our site into English.
Congrats! I would also appreciate a full post, and would be interested to hear more about the process of passing the amendment. It would be great to recognize those who contributed to this work.
The Belgian senate votes to add animal welfare to the constitution.
It’s been a journey. I work for GAIA, a Belgian animal advocacy group that for years has tried to get animal welfare added to the constitution. Today we were present as a supermajority of the senate came out in favor of our proposed constitutional amendment. The relevant section reads:
It’s a very good day for Belgian animals but I do want to note that:
This does not mean an effective shutdown of the meat industry, merely that all future pro-animal welfare laws and lawsuits will have an easier time. And,
It still needs to pass the Chamber of Representatives.
If there’s interest I will make a full post about it
ifonce it passes the Chamber.EDIT: Translated the linked article on our site into English.
Congrats! I would also appreciate a full post, and would be interested to hear more about the process of passing the amendment. It would be great to recognize those who contributed to this work.
Very interesting. I’d personally appreciate a full post.
+1 for full post. And huge congrats. This must’ve been incredibly difficult work, for an ambitious goal, and you made it happen! So great.