The Africa Animal Welfare Conference 2019

The 3rd Africa Animal Welfare Conference was held 2-4 September 2019, at the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Conference was organized under the partnership of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW).

The conference was held under the theme: Animals, Environment and Sustainable Development in 21st Century Africa: An Interlinked Approach. Organized by the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) in partnership with UN Environment Programme. Collaboration between UNEP and ANAW is administered through an MoU with the Civil Society Unit, UNEP. The current MoU is a 3-year commitment that will expire on 31 December 2022.

More than 270 participants attended the 2 ½ - day conference, drawing from several organizations in countries across the world: Australia, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, India, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The full list of participants can be accessed. The conference sessions were structured into fourteen (14) panel sessions spread over the 2 ½ -days. The Conference programme can be accessed.

At the end of the conference, the African Civil Society in attendance were satisfied with the coordination and preparations for the meeting. They were also better informed about the outcomes of UNEA-4 and expectations of UNEA-5, including opportunities available for their engagement.

1. Animal welfare issues have evolved into a topical issue of concern that merit global attention. It is clear that interaction between human society and the animal world are inextricably linked, hence humane approach on how animals are handled for economic and aesthetic value is critical
2. New frontiers in science (physiological, biological, psychological, social etc), law, policy and international collaboration on animal welfare continue to emerge and calls for greater attention relevant academic disciplines professional discourse
3. Participants at the conference agreed to engage with UNEP to:

• consult and provide inputs to the UNEA Bureau on the definition of the theme of the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly by end of October 2019
• follow-up on regional processes to articulate the merits of animal welfare debate as an international concern
• consult and provide inputs to member states that would champion any proposal of a resolution to be adopted at UNEA-5 on animal welfare

     4. The 4th Africa Animal Welfare Conference will be held in Accra, Ghana, in 2020.