UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF ANIMAL RIGHTS.

La Liga Internacional de los Derechos del Animal adoptó en 1977 y proclamó el 15 de octubre de 1978 la siguiente Declaración Universal de los Derechos del Animal, posteriormente aprobada por la UNESCO y por la ONU.

Preamble

Considering
that Life is one, all living beings having a common origin and having diversified in the course of the evolution of the species.

Considering
that all living beings possess natural rights, and that any animal with a nervous system has specific rights;

Considering
that the contempt for, and even the simple ignorance of these natural rights cause serious damage to nature and lead man to commit crimes against animals;

Considering
that the coexistence of species implies a recognition by the human species of the right of other animal species to live;

Considering
that the respect of humans for animals is inseparable from the respect of man for another man.

It is hereby proclaimed:

Article 1

•  All animals are born equal and they have the same rights to existence.

Article 2

•  Every animal has the right to be respected.
  

•  Man, like the animal species, cannot assume the right to exterminate other animals or to exploit them, thereby violating this right. He should use his conscience for the ser ice of the animals.
  

•  Every animal has the right to consideration, good treatment and the protection of man.

Article 3

•  No animal should be submitted to bad treatment or cruel actions.
  

•  If the death of an animal isnecessary, this should be sudden and without fear or pain.

Article 4

•  All animals belongingto a wild species have the right to live free in their natural environment, and have the right to reproduce.
  

•  Toda privación de libertad, incluso aquella que tenga fines educativos, es contraria a este derecho.

Artículo 5

•  Todo animal perteneciente a una especie viva tradicionalmente en el entorno del hombre, tiene derecho a vivir y crecer al ritmo y en las condiciones de vida y libertad que sean propias de su especie.
  

•  Toda modificación de dicho ritmo o dichas condiciones que fuera impuesta por el hombre con fines mercantiles es contraria a este derecho.

Article 6

•  All animals selected by man, as companions must have a life corresponding to their natural longevity .
  

•  To abandon an animal is a cruel and degrading action.

Article 7

•  Working animals must only work for a limited period and must not be worked to exhaustion. They must have adequate food and rest .

Article 8

•  Experiments on animals that cause physical and mental pain, are incompatible with animal rights, even if it is for medical, scientific, commercial or any other kind of experiment.
  

•  A substitute technique must be investigated and developed.

Article 9

•  In the eventuality of an animal bred for food, it must be fed, managed, transported and killed without it being in fear or pain.

Article 10

•  No animal should be used for entertainment.
  

•  Animal exhibitions and shows that use animals are incompatible with an animal's dignity.

Article 11

•  Every action that causes the unnecessary death of an animal, is cruel which is a crime against life.

Article 12

•  Every action that causes the death of a lot of wild animals is genocide, that is a crime against the species.
  

•  Pollution and destruction leads to the extinction of the species.

Article 13

•  Dead animals must be treated with respect.
  

•  Violent scenes, where animals are the victims, must be forbidden at the cinema and on TV, unless they are for the demonstration of animal rights.

Article 14

•  Protection and safeguarding associations must be represented at government leve.

•  Animal rights must be defended by law as are human rights