In a remarkable and groundbreaking development, Belgium has recently taken an important step towards protecting animal welfare by including animals in the constitution. This historic event has sparked a wave of enthusiasm and hope among animal lovers and animal rights advocates across the country.

Friday, May 3, 2024

On Friday, May 3, 2024, during a vote in the Belgian parliament, 70 MPs voted for the constitutional amendment to recognize animals as “creatures with feelings”, a milestone that marks a fundamental shift in how animals are seen and treated in society.The approval of this constitutional amendment is the result of years of efforts and pleas by animal rights organizations, activists and ethicists who fought for better animal protection in Belgium. It is a recognition of the growing awareness that animals are not just objects, but living beings with awareness, emotions and the capacity to feel pain and joy.

Image from: https://www.gaia.be/nl

Constitution

The inclusion of animals in the Constitution has far-reaching implications for how legislators, policy makers, and society as a whole deal with issues related to animal welfare, such as pet protection, agricultural practices, zoo management, and the use of animals in scientific research.

Several political parties have expressed their support for this historic constitutional amendment, recognizing that protecting animal welfare is a shared responsibility of society as a whole. Parties such as Ecolo, Green, Les Engagés, MR and Vooruit have actively contributed to promoting this important step towards progress and ethics in Belgian society.

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