A historic resolution that recognizes the link between animal welfare, environment, and sustainable development, was adopted with the overwhelming support of all Member States at UNEA 5.2 on March 2, 2022.
Efforts and activities that led to this ground-breaking achievement stemmed from indigenous animal welfare groups in Africa in partnership with global like-minded organizations. The advocacy actions were supported by the Member States and coordinated by Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), African Union – Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), and the World Federation for Animals (WFA). The organizations collaborated with their partners and member organizations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and USA.
The resolution was sponsored by seven Member states, namely: Ghana, Burkina Faso, Senegal, South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, that called on the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to produce a report in close collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the One-Health High-Level Expert Panel and other stakeholders on the nexus between animal welfare, environment, and sustainable development.
The event was the first-ever resolution to be tabled and adopted at the United Nations Environmental Assembly 5.2. with explicit reference to animal welfare. The genesis of the resolution is from the courage and foresight, of the delegates of the Africa Animal Welfare Conference 2019, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who mandated the conference secretariat through a resolution, to reach out to member states to support and sponsor a resolution to bring Animal Welfare in the global environmental agenda.
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