WAN has long been supporting the work by the African Union Interafrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU IBAR)’s work in developing a continent-wide animal welfare strategy, and we’re pleased to announce that in January this strategy was formally endorsed by African heads of state. This is a huge step for animals, as Africa was the last continent without a formalized Regional Animal Welfare Strategy. Even better, the mission of Africa’s strategy envisions an “an Africa where animals are treated as sentient beings.”

We are pleased to announce the release of a new resource, Guidance for Animal Protection Organizations: Engaging the United Nations High Level Political Forum and the Sustainable Development Agenda, providing information on how animal protection organizations can engage the Sustainable Development Agenda at the United Nations. The Sustainable Development Agenda is a useful policy stream for animal protection organizations to become active in because of the many areas in which sustainable development intersects with animal wellbeing. The Sustainable Development Agenda, also called the 2030 Agenda, contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), each of which comprises Targets (what needs to be achieved for the goal to be fully implemented) and Indicators (how can that achievement be measured).

First, WAN would like to wish all those working to improve the lives of animals a happy and successful 2018! We’re honored to work with so many passionate and inspiring individuals and organizations across the world.

This year has been a year of substantial growth and development of WAN’s work and role in the animal protection movement. At the beginning of the year we assessed and refined our strategy, which includes three main Pillars:

What is it?

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is an opportunity for decision-makers, stakeholders and civil society organizations to convene in Nairobi, Kenya, with the aim of taking policy action for the environment. This year’s UNEA is taking place from 4-6 December under the theme of “Towards a pollution free future.” You can read more about UNEA in our recent blogs.

WAN is now making final preparations for our attendance next week of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya. United Nations Environment, which hosts UNEA, is the leading environmental policymaking body globally. The theme of this year’s UNEA is pollution, and so WAN is looking to use this opportunity to raise awareness of the significant contribution to pollution of animal agriculture.

What, When, Where, Who?

At the moment, World Animal Net (WAN) is busy preparing to attend the United Nations Environment Assembly 3 (UNEA 3), which takes place in Nairobi, Kenya from 4-6 December. This year’s UNEA, which is the biennial event convened by UN Environment, is themed “Towards a Pollution-Free Planet” and brings together environmental ministers from member states around the world to find consensus on actions to globally solve the issue of pollution. In addition, this forum is a great opportunity for animal advocates to raise the issue of industrial animal agriculture, which is a major contributor to pollution of air, soil, and water, as well as being one of the major drivers of climate change.

At World Animal Net we are proud supporters of World Animal Day, a holiday that recognizes animals of all kinds and challenges us to do our best to improve their lives. This year, WAN volunteers, staff and board have gotten in the spirit and joined the “Global Wave,” a social media campaign by World Animal Day organizers asking participants to take a selfie and share on social media in order to spread the word about World Animal Day.

We would like to also take this opportunity to thank all those who support our work, particularly our volunteers, and to encourage others to join the World Animal Day celebration.