ever since the beginning of the nineteenth century, when early animal welfare
movements in the United Kingdom sought to end cruel practices such as beatings and
other inhumane treatment. Since then, the animal rights movement has struggled to
30make further progress with these types of animals. In 2000, an international group of
venerable4 animal welfare organizations proposed the Universal Declaration on Animal
Welfare (UDAW), which sought to reduce unnecessary cruelty toward the suffering of
animals. In 2005, an intergovernmental steering committee was assembled to improve
UDAWs chances of adoption. It received endorsements from a number of national
35veterinary associations, the World Organization for Animal Health, the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Council of the European Union. UDAWs
organizing values embrace the principles that animated the nineteenth-century
anticruelty legislation.
Animals at the continuums other endincluding great apes, cetaceans (whales,
40dolphins, and porpoises), and elephantspossess a complex consciousness and selfconsciousness, exquisite5 sentience, robust6 general intelligence, and a powerful
sense of autonomy7. They, too, have long received some protection from unnecessary
cruelty. But rapid scientific advances over the last half century have demonstrated that
their advanced levels of cognition8 leave them inadequately protected by anticruelty
45and similar legislation.
For example, chimpanzees can reflect upon their thoughts. They have powerful
memories, can anticipate and prepare for the future, and even have a sense of moral
agencythey ostracize9 those who violate social norms and respond negatively to
13 Jurisdiction: (n) the right or authority to interpret and administer the law.
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