Are animal rights protected by international law?
Animal rights are not explicitly protected by international law. However, there are a few conventions which can be used to give some protection to animals. For example, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) makes it illegal to trade certain species of wild animals and plants, and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) promotes the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The United Nations Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) is the only international document that addresses animal welfare, but it is not legally binding and is more of a set of guidelines for improving animal welfare around the world. Within the United States, each state has its own set of animal rights laws, and Washington state is no exception. Washington state laws focus mainly on protecting animals from cruel and inhumane treatment, with specific crimes being outlined in the Washington State Revised Code. Washington state has also adopted the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Model Animal Protection Act to protect animals from abuse and neglect. Overall, although animal rights are not explicitly protected by international law, there are some international conventions and guidelines aimed at protecting animals which may provide a certain level of protection. Additionally, animal rights are protected in the state of Washington by state laws, which are much more detailed.
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