In Support of the Universal Declaration For Animal Welfare (UDAW)

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is working to end animal cruelty through a global petition calling for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW)to be adopted by the United Nations. The UDAW is an agreement among people and nations to recognize that animals are sentient and can suffer, to respect their welfare needs and to end animal cruelty - for good.

Did You Know...

• Globally, there are some 600 million dogs, and a similar number of cats, of which an estimated 80% are stray or unwanted.
   
• The illegal and often inhumane trade in wildlife and wildlife parts is a soaring black market worth $10 billion a year, exceeded only by arms and drug smuggling. Millions of wild animals are killed, captured or traded inhumanely in this shady business.
   
• An estimated 80% of power input on farms in developing countries is supplied by draught animals, however the resources made available are often woefully inadequate, leading to significant welfare issues.
   
• Around 60 billion farm animals are used each year globally to produce meat, milk and eggs. The majority are raised in industrial farming systems where their welfare needs are not met.

Be A Part of The Movement

For a global problem you need a global solution. Agreement on the importance of an issue affects people's attitudes, and people's attitudes affect their actions.

Please circulate the petition to friends, family, colleagues, school mates or just anyone you think cares about the plight of animals in the world today.Improving animal welfare can also improve the welfare of people relying on these animals. Over a billion people directly rely on animals around the world for their livelihoods.

Help us achieve global recognition that animals matter. We seek 10 million signatures to let the governments of the world know we are serious about animal welfare.

Government Endorsement

After nearly a year of lobbying by the good people at the World Society For The Protection of Animals (WSPA) and SPCA Selangor, our Ministry of Agriculture issued an official letter of endorsement for the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) in August 2008. The aim of the UDAW is to establish animal welfare as an issue of global importance as part of social development worldwide. Other governments who have given their official support to the UDAW are Kenya, India, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, the Republic of the Philippines, Fiji, Cambodia, Sweden, the Seychelles, Colombia, New Zealand, Australia, India, the UK, Bahrain, Croatia, Costa Rica and Thailand. SPCA would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Veterinary Services for their acknowledgment and support for the UDAW!

Royal Support for the UDAW

DYMM Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, is passionate about horse riding and horse welfare. The UDAW will encourage better welfare for horses and all Malaysia’s animals. WSPA and SPCA Selangor have worked together to achieve this step forward for the UDAW campaign in Malaysia. SPCA Selangor thanks His Royal Highness for thinking of the animals!

His Royal Highness has joined more than 8,500 members of the Malaysian public in signing the Animals Matter to Me global petition in support of the UDAW. Other influential figures backing the international recognition of the importance of animal welfare are Malaysia’s Minister of Agriculture Y.B. Dato’ Mustapa Mohamed, Tourism Minister Dato' Sri Azalina binti Othman Said, and KL Tower CEO Dato' Zulkifli.

How Many Malaysians Have Signed?

Our efforts to collect signatures have been successful - thanks to your help and support we managed to get more than 8,500 signatures as of December 2008 from Malaysia!

Over 1,600,000 people have so far signed their support for the UDAW worldwide, please help spread the message so that we can achieve 10 million signatures by 2010!

Do Animals Matter To You? Sign The Petition!

Help us achieve global recognition that animals matter, that they can feel pain and can suffer and that we have a responsibility to put an end to cruelty around the world. We seek 10 million signatures to let the governments of the world know we are serious about achieving a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations.