World Animal Net recently submitted a blog exploring why animal protection should be included in the Sustainable Development Agenda to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). This blog, coauthored with Jack McQuibban (Cruelty Free International) and Bonnie Wyper (Thinking Animals United) was submitted on behalf of the Animal Issues Thematic Cluster (AITC, which WAN is co-organizing with Thinking Animals United and Nonviolence International), and explores the intersections of animal protection with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 6 (water), 12 (sustainable consumption and production) and 15 (life on land), in addition to the role of animal protection in ensuring sustainable and resilient societies (which is the theme of this year's High Level Political Forum, which is the annual review process of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals).
We are pleased that not only was the blog published by DESA, it was the first blog of the series to be authored by civil society, and follows on the heels of blogs by high level personnel at the UN. We hope that this signals a willingness to begin a conversation on the importance of animal issues to sustainable development at this year's HLPF in July and the processes leading up to it.
Last week, WAN representatives are also attended the Regional Forum for Sustainable Development in Geneva, and we are coordinating attendance of other parallel regional preparatory forums by animal protection organizations through the AITC.
Other processes leading up to the HLPF include Voluntary National Reviews, which are national-level reviews that 48 countries will be conducting this year. You can check if your country is conducting a review this year on the Sustainable Development website--if so and you'd like to provide input to your government, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as we can help you find the appropriate national representative you should contact for more information.
