Animal Rights Awareness Week – June 17-23, 2024

History of Animal Rights Awareness Week

The concept of animal rights stems from the philosophy that all sentient beings have inherent moral value independent of their utility to human beings. Furthermore, this philosophy propounds that the interests of all such beings, such as avoiding exploitation, should be afforded proper consideration — akin to the interests of human beings. The increasing evidence of the negative impact human beings have on animals has increased our moral obligation to ensure the least amount of damage is inflicted on them.

The concept of animal rights has been around for millennia, finding its roots in Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain philosophies of non-violence and equality for all living beings. In the Global North, one of the first animal cruelty legislation was passed in 1635, banning the tearing off of wool from live sheep. The first outright mention of animal rights came from a book by Henry Stephens Salt, “Animals’ Rights: Considered in Relation to Social Progress,” which spoke up against the prejudice toward animals.

Today, the animal rights movement fights against the existing exploitation of animals in the meat and dairy industries, puppy mills, animal testing, the use and consumption of animal products in food and fashion, e.t.c. Animal rights activists often encourage people to buy cruelty-free products, go vegan, and adopt pets instead of buying them from breeders.