International Action Is Essential
While many Humane Party policy positions and law-making efforts pertain specifically to the jurisdiction of the United States, the HP also addresses international matters. Given that many of the challenges that the world now faces—such as biocollapse, climate change, and sea-level rise—cannot be fully solved by any nation acting alone, international cooperation is paramount. This article discusses two of the Humane Party’s leading international initiatives.
Faunacide Convention
The Faunacide Convention (formally known as the “Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Faunacide”) is a proposed United Nations convention. The text is modeled in part on the UN Genocide Convention (formally known as the “Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”), which was ratified in 1948 and went into effect 1951.
The Faunacide Convention provides protections to all animals worldwide in a manner that is analogous to the protections for humans under the Genocide Convention.
The final draft of the Faunacide Convention, for current purposes, was published in 2015. Because much debate and negotiation can be expected during the process of getting the Faunacide Convention ratified by the United Nations, the draft that actually goes into effect is likely to differ from the current draft.
Non-Militarization of Animals Treaty
The Non-Militarization of Animals Treaty (NMAT) is a proposed international treaty that can be enacted by and between any two or more countries. Upon ratification, NMAT signatories agree not to use animals in warfare nor disguise weapons as animals; not to target animals in warfare nor to take actions that would result in the targeting of animals by others; and to treat animals as noncombatants and to undertake an affirmative duty to avoid harm to noncombatant populations.
Precedents for the NMAT include the Outer Space Treaty (1967) (formally known as the “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies”), which provides express prohibitions against the militarization and armament of space.
Looking Ahead
Future articles will discuss both the Faunacide Convention and the NMAT in more detail. In the meantime, note that the road to ending faunacide includes:
- raising awareness of faunacide itself and of the ethical, economic, and ecological implications of faunacide;
- gaining public engagement in directly preventing faunacide;
- building political will to reach international, intercultural, worldwide agreement to end faunacide and ratify the Faunacide Convention; and
- empowering political, for-profit, and not-for-profit entities to take action in accordance with this worldwide agreement.
Activists are encouraged to review the five different zones of potential action for animals and find which one(s) are most attractive to them. These areas for effective activism include:
- International
- National
- State
- Corporate and Institutional
- Personal and Community
If the international initiatives discussed in this article hold special appeal for you, please be sure to indicate your interest in helping bring about international law, collaboration, and cooperation on these issues when getting in touch with the Humane Party.
Yes, the Humane Party has designated the planet Earth as a future animal sanctuary. But whether that transition takes five years or fifty depends on those who get involved.
~ Shelley Harrison
The Humane Herald 
