ROMANIA – Humane World for Animals welcomes and supports today’s launch of a parliamentary debate aimed at improving the animal protection legal framework, including recognizing animals as sentient beings with rights and freedoms.
Humane World for Animals, formerly known as Humane Society International, fully supports the proposed amendment to Article 1 of Law no. 205/2004, defining animals as “sentient beings with rights and freedoms” who must receive “humane treatment.” Aligning with standards already used across Europe, this change would affirm in Romanian law that animals are not objects but beings whose needs and welfare require respect.
Andreea Roseti, country director for Romania at Humane World for Animals said: ”Introducing a correct and comprehensive definition of animals as sentient beings would be a major step forward for Romanian legislation. It is the first essential condition for creating a stronger set of rules and regulations that can prevent and impose sanctions on cruelty toward animals — so we no longer witness the ongoing abuses that have plagued our country for decades”.
Other proposed amendments include recognizing animals’ psychological suffering, strengthening the effectiveness of the Animal Protection Police, introducing harsher penalties for acts of cruelty promoted online and strictly limiting the ownership of wild animals.
The legislative initiatives now under debate in the Romanian Parliament were shaped by extensive consultations with NGO representatives. Humane World for Animals, as a member of the working group involved in these discussions, contributed with expertise, ideas and solutions alongside other civil society organizations. The working group was established following the launch of the “Respect for Animals” initiative, coordinated by Andrei Baciu, member of the Romanian Parliament, and Hilde Tudora, director of the Animal Protection Directorate within the Ilfov County Council. The initiative proposed the Decalogue for Animals, helping to raise public awareness of the need to treat animals with respect.
The proposed amendments to Romania’s animal protection legislation reflect both scientific progress and the evolving way in which society relates to animals. Today, it is well understood that animals experience a range of emotions including pain, fear and joy.
Humans rely extensively on animals, as seen in the growing number of assistance dogs supporting patients with various conditions, and the involvement of animals in therapeutic programs. A moral approach requires recognizing their need for protection and well-being. Many countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Austria and Luxembourg, have already updated their laws to acknowledge animals as sentient beings entitled to protection.
Humane World for Animals will continue to closely follow the parliamentary debate and legislative process for these new proposals, offering its full support and advocating for an accelerated adoption that would result in modern, European-standard animal protection legislation.
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