In 2022, the Argentina court recognized an orangutan as a "non-human person." In the US, the Nonhuman Rights Project has fought for habeas corpus for chimpanzees. While largely unsuccessful, these cases have shifted the Overton window.
The concept of animal welfare and rights has gained significant attention in recent years, with many individuals, organizations, and governments advocating for the humane treatment and protection of animals. This report aims to provide an overview of the current state of animal welfare and rights, highlighting key issues, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
Where do we go from here? We are living through a "Protein Transition." In 2022, the Argentina court recognized an orangutan
: Sparked by activists like Peter Singer ( Animal Liberation , 1975) and Tom Regan ( The Case for Animal Rights , 1983), the focus shifted toward recognizing animals as "subjects-of-a-life" with inherent rights. Chapter 20 - Animal Welfare and Animal Rights
Welfare has achieved concrete victories. The EU banned battery cages for hens (2012) and gestation crates for pigs (2013). The US passed the Animal Welfare Act (though it excludes rats and mice—98% of test subjects). Proposition 12 in California (2018) mandated space requirements for breeding pigs, forcing national supply chains to adapt. These are welfare victories, not rights victories. This report aims to provide an overview of
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | THE ANIMAL ETHICS SPECTRUM | +------------------------------------+------------------------------+ | ANIMAL WELFARE | ANIMAL RIGHTS | +------------------------------------+------------------------------+ | • Regulates human use of animals | • Abolishes human use | | • Focuses on well-being & comfort | • Focuses on moral status | | • Goal: Prevent unnecessary pain | • Goal: End exploitation | | • Framework: Five Freedoms | • Framework: Personhood | +------------------------------------+------------------------------+ Animal Welfare: Responsible Stewardship
Most global welfare standards are rooted in the "Five Freedoms," ensuring animals have freedom from hunger/thirst, discomfort, pain/disease, fear/distress, and the ability to express normal behavior. Philosophical and Historical Origins Chapter 20 - Animal Welfare and Animal Rights
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The Global Evolution of Animal Welfare and Rights: Ethics, Law, and Society