For the first time ever, an international animal rights conference is coming to Palestine. Hosted by the Palestinian Animal League (PAL), the three-day conference, called “Defending Palestine: Liberating the People, the Land, and Animals,” will unite activists from throughout Palestine and around the world to introduce ideas, facilitate discussions and brainstorm solutions during these difficult times for the region. The event, happening in May, will be held at the Youth Village and includes tours to three key cities: Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah.
The goal of the conference is “to strengthen solidarity of animal rights in Palestine, hand in hand with human rights and the recognition of the Palestinian right to land…[and] to provide an international platform for people active in the animal rights movement and those interested in learning more about animal rights,” PAL spokesperson Danielle Williams, an American living in the West Bank, told Lady Freethinker.
For the last five decades, major conflicts have plagued the West Bank and Gaza strip regions of Palestine, resulting in human rights violations and ongoing violence. In places such as this, where basic human needs are often unmet, PAL faces a huge challenge in introducing the concepts of animal rights and welfare.
“It will be a remarkable and unique experience for the Palestinian, Israeli and international participants as we look at the intersection of animal, human and environmental rights in the context of Palestine,” said Williams.
PAL was launched in 2011 with the mission of improving the lives of both animals and people living in Palestine. The atmosphere of violence and oppression between humans extends to violence and cruelty towards animals, and the organization reports some disturbing animal welfare issues.
“Municipalities openly use horrific tactics to curtail street animal population, most commonly by leaving poison for the street animals to consume and then die slowly and painfully,” said Williams. “Veganism and vegetarianism are not widely understood or popular here, and there is much education to be done related to the internationality of animal welfare, environmental protection, and human rights.”
Since their creation, PAL have undertaken a variety of programs, including free desexing and health care for street dogs, veterinary care for working horses and donkeys, and educational outreach for young people.
They hope that this groundbreaking conference will be a turning point for a troubled country; a chance to bring people together with the common goal of providing compassion and assistance to all beings.
“It will undermine Islamophobia, xenophobia, and anti-Arab racism in the animal rights movement as well as demonstrate that despite border militarization, land theft, displacement, war, and occupation, Palestinians strive to provide proper care for all beings,” said Williams.
What’s New…
Fine ??
Let us hope and pray, that they are wise, how to help poor Animals.
Good news, thank you so much.?
A big step in the right direction Palestine. Good on you. It’s time the world realised animals need many voices for their protection.
Let’s hope this continues in this country & sets examples for lots more. ??????
Looking forward to seeing much learning from Palestines’s admirable initiative!
Wonderful!
Maybe if they stopped launching rockets into Israeli civilian areas from Gaza they could address their animal issues more adequately.
SIGNED TO END CRUELTIES OF INNOCENT DOGS AND CATS THEY ARE LOYALISTS PETS and Loving TO There FAMILY members AND devoted to there OWNER NO MATTER WHAT THIS PETS ARE LOYALISTS and faithful to the FAMILY members DOGS ARE BEST COMPANIONS AND LOVING unconditionally FOREVER TO THIER OWNER. THANK YOU FOR ANIMALS RIGHTS and ANIMALS PROTECTION of Palestinian COUNTRY. SIGNED
wonderful Palestine..standing up for animals I love you !
Fantastic News! It seems more and more people are starting to realize that animals are not just “things that don’t love, feel pain, hurt, sadness, happiness, and so many of the same emotions we have. They deserve this after so many years, decades of being openly mistreated, cruelly poisoned, killed for NO reason by MUNICIPALITIES no less! You go Palestine, Israel, Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah. Make “your world” and that of the animals there so much better! I know hings are bad and the war(s) are awful and not just terrifying for adults and children but also the animals who are left behind to fend for them selves. God help each and everyone and I pray all goes fantastically well in these meetings to better your part of the world.
Wonderful news! Communities everywhere need to be more aware, more caring and more proactive in the animal rights movement. Thanks PAL and Palestine for hosting your first-ever animal rights conference.
All the excellent people who care about animal rights should know that my initiative to knock down the barrier between human and animal rights is getting support.I contacted PETA first to start to work out the Declaration of the Universal Rights of Every Sentient Creature that should be later the substitute for the current ‘human rights’.At an international conference like this one in Palestine, this issue could be brought up.
Thank you ! Palestine.
They need Vet’s without borders and training for med students to keep the population down. Feeding poison or colluding to kill street dogs when caught, should be faced with prison time. Photos with proof resulting in conviction should receive rewards. Nothing else will work except the laws of the land strictly enforced, which includes civilian participation as in the three Americans that stopped the terrorist on the train in France. That is what we need in todays world of crime, civilian participation. Our beautiful animals have no voices, they are true victims, and truly innocent. Good luck with the Convention. Laws with conviction for animal abuse must start world wide.
Thank You, Palestine! Brave People! Great Country! The civilized World is on your side! So help You Allah!
Folks! Have at it! love Dawn
Thats wonderful news to read .I believe that the more other countries get involved the more we can do to protect our wildlife and ocean lives. In return we will have saved lives and make our world safer. We also need to get involved to change global warming. Please lets work together. For the safety of our world.
This is AWSOME news. I will pray for a successful conference.
Wonderful, wonderful news! We often forget that we humans are animals too, and have separated ourselves in error from other animals, as well as from nature. Love and blessings to All.
I think this is outstanding news. The rights of animals have long been overlooked here. Remember animals die in war as well. Gluck with the conference. Wish I could attend. ?????
This is, “Righteous”. news
Amazing, bravo Palestine! Wish I could attend.