Multi-part Series of Courage and Compassion on the Street, Part 21: International Animal Rights Day

December 10th, known as Human Rights Day, celebrates freedom, equality, and justice for all. In 1998, the animal-people rights group “Uncaged” established International Animal Rights Day to be celebrated on the same day as Human Rights Day, to emphasize the interconnection between the rights of animal-people and those of humans. The awareness of the need to protect animal-persons from injustice is increasing rapidly. Investigations into various cases of exploitation and cruelty have been exposed, as revealed in rallies and demonstrations in many places around the world.

“Today we’re having a nationwide Animal Rights March in South India. We’re organizing it as part of Bengaluru Brigade for Animal Liberation. The idea is to march for animal rights to spread awareness about the concept of veganism and to help people see that veganism is not extreme, that it’s not aggressive but it’s a social justice movement meant to highlight that animals are sentient beings and not commodities.” “I am vegan because I believe that every animal should have rights. We care for them. We acknowledge that they are sentient and conscious. And I believe that those rights should be translated to every single animal. And we all deserve rights.” “We will always center on the animals and those suffering from oppression. They might call it woke, we call it JUSTICE.”

On January 21, 2023, thousands of people participated in the International Animal Rights March in Lisbon, Portugal. Organized by the IRA, it was also supported by various animal rights organizations and activists. Participants carried signs and banners demanding an end to animal testing, the use of fur in fashion, and the exploitation of animals in circuses and zoos. Moreover, there is limited enforcement of the animal protection laws and a lack of education about animal welfare. The march was important because it attracted a lot of media attention and sparked a wider conversation about animal rights in Portugal and called for stronger legal protections and better enforcement of existing laws.