Published By Australian Animal Welfare Strategy
In a major step forward towards improving animal welfare across Asia, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Assembly has endorsed the development of a new welfare strategy to guide on the ground activities in the region.
The Paris-based OIE is the international organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide, setting global guidelines for animal welfare issues for 178 member countries and 36 related international and regional organisations.
Australia has been instrumental in developing a new Regional Animal Welfare Strategy (RAWS) and Implementation Plan for the Asia, Far East and Oceania region of the OIE.
Chair of the RAWS Coordination Group, Dr Gardner Murray, said the RAWS would guide animal welfare activities in a group of countries accounting for the majority of the global human and animal populations.
“This strategy demonstrates a commitment by countries to improve animal welfare over the long term, notwithstanding the numerous cultural, socio-economic and religious differences between the 45 regional members, including the likes of India, China, Indonesia and Australia,” Dr Murray said.
“It is a significant achievement which will advance the delivery of a coordinated campaign to improve animal welfare around the world.