KATHMANDU, July 17

The Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN), an alliance of animal rights organisations in the country, has demanded that the government incorporate issues of animal welfare in the new constitution.

Organising a press conference in the capital on Friday, the animal rights activists as well as stakeholders pressed for including ‘eradicating all kinds of existing cruelty and inappropriate behaviours against animals’ in the preliminary draft of the constitution.

Nepali Congress Constituent Assembly member Nabindraraj Joshi suggested that the authority concerned add the phrase ‘the State shall be responsible for the welfare of the animals’, keeping in view the need of protecting human rights along with animal rights.

Similarly, CPN-UML lawmaker Rajan Bhattarai said that the new constitution would ensure the animal rights. Stating that securing the welfare of the animals was a universal practice, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal lawmaker Dilnath Giri pointed out the need of a separate Act for the same.

AWNN Chairperson Manoj Gautam underscored the need of regulation concerning animal welfare.

Stating that human rights was at stake in the country, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal lawmaker Shivaji Yadav doubted that the inclusion of the provision related to the animal welfare in the initial draft would materialise.

He, however, pledged that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure the animal rights in the constitution.