Ricky Gervais backs animal welfare petition

Jun 14, 2007

World renowned comedian Ricky Gervais has signed a petition in support of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) and is calling on all his fans to do the same.

The petition has just achieved half a million signatures. The Declaration aims to achieve global recognition of the sentience of animals, and their ability to feel pain and to suffer.

Ricky, the award-winning UK artist, took time out from his nationwide tour to set the global petition on its way to its first million signatures with his crucial signature of support.

Speaking about the UDAW initiative and his support for the WSPA, Ricky said:

"WSPA works with animal groups around the world to make sure animals are treated humanely and educate people who may not know animals feel pain and get stressed.  They’re also part of a huge plan to get TEN million people to pledge their personal support for a Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare and I think that’s a brilliant plan - I say ‘yes’ to anything to do with stopping animal cruelty.”

Earlier this year Ricky topped the bill at the first WSPA ‘Stand Up for Animals’ comedy night which raised £80,000 for the charity.

WSPA Director General Peter Davies said:

“We are delighted Ricky Gervais is making this commitment to the Universal Declaration and to WSPA. The Declaration is the most far reaching and significant animal welfare initiative ever mounted. It will transform the landscape of animal welfare by having the sentience of animals formally recognised at the highest political level. This will lead to improving welfare conditions for animals all over the world. To have the Declaration supported by internationally recognised public figures is a huge boost to the initiative and we warmly welcome Ricky’s support..”

A Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare would help animals in the following ways:

• By raising the status of animal welfare as an international issue.
• By encouraging governments to improve their national animal welfare legislation.
• By providing a basis for animal welfare legislation in countries where legislation does not currently exist.
• By encouraging those industries which use animals to keep welfare at the forefront of their policies.
• By improving public awareness of the importance of animal welfare and the negative impact of bad animal welfare on people and animals.
• By inspiring positive change in public attitudes towards animals.

 
The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare is an intergovernmental initiative led by a steering group made up from officials within the Governments of India, Kenya, Costa Rica, the Republic of the Philippines and the Czech Republic.

The Declaration has also received the support of Ministers from governments including Australia and the UK, and was recently endorsed by the World Organisation for Animal Health, the international organisation representing Chief Veterinary Officers from 169 countries. The final destination for the Declaration will be the United Nations.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is acting as the official secretariat to the Declaration initiative. In this capacity it is being supported by hundreds of animal welfare organisations across the world, including  the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  

To find out more about the Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare visit the Animals Matter to Me website at http://www.animalsmatter.org/