Animal Equality Introduces Animal Sentience Bill In Nuevo León
On July 13, Animal Equality in Mexico introduced an initiative to recognize the sentience of animals in the Political Constitution of Nuevo León, Mexico. The bill was presented alongside Congresswoman Iraís Virginia Reyes de la Torre and ten other legislators from the Citizen Movement Party.
This bill follows Animal Equality’s recent release of the most extensive investigation documenting the emotional and physical suffering of animals in slaughterhouses across Mexico. The footage was collected for 6 years across 13 states in Mexico inside 34 slaughterhouses. In this investigation, Animal Equality documented workers hitting, kicking, and yelling at animals. Animals were found conscious during slaughter due to ineffective stunning methods. Animals showed signs of distress, such as vocalization and flight behaviors as they tried to escape workers mishandling them.
Animals feel emotions and pain just like humans and Animal Equality has extensively documented this through our undercover investigations. It’s time we recognize this and protect these animals through laws, and by choosing plant-based alternatives. The new bill Animal Equality introduced in Nuevo León is a step forward in protecting animals from some of the worst abuses.
-Sharon Núñez, President for Animal Equality
The new bill introduced in Nuevo León seeks to reform the Political Constitution to recognize animal sentience:
This Constitution recognizes animals as sentient beings and, therefore, they must be treated with dignity, guaranteeing their welfare. In the State of Nuevo León, every person has an ethical duty and legal obligation to respect the life and integrity of animals; these, by their nature, are subjects of moral consideration. Their protection is a common responsibility. The guardianship and protection of animals are a shared responsibility of the State and its citizens, including the adequate care of animals in a situation of abandonment. The authorities of the State and of the Municipalities, within their respective attributions, must guarantee at all times the protection, welfare and dignified and respectful treatment of the animals that inhabit or transit in the State and must promote a culture of care and responsible guardianship of the same. The laws of the State shall guarantee the effective protection of animals as sentient beings.
The Animal Protection and Welfare Law of the State of Nuevo León already establishes that animals are sentient beings. However, the Political Constitution gives much broader protection. This recognition will be an important tool for the protection of all species in Nuevo León, where more than 42 million animals are killed for their meat.
This initiative will be considered alongside other unrelated bills that have been introduced and seek to reform the Constitution. Animal Equality will promote this new bill throughout the government process just as we continue to do with the historical bill to recognize animal sentience in the Mexico Constitution that was introduced earlier this year. Animal Equality’s determination with similar bills has paid off with the recent victory in Hidalgo, which became the first state in Mexico to legally protect farmed animals.
Upon its passing, Nuevo León will become one of the most progressive states in the country in animal protection by recognizing animal sentience in its Constitution.
How you can ensure the protection of farmed animals: Ten years after the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness, we can affirm that animals feel and can experience various emotional states, such as pain, stress, and distress. It is our obligation not to harm them and to ensure they do not suffer. Recognizing sentience in legislation is the first step toward ensuring their protection.
You, too, can do your part to ensure farmed animals do not suffer, emotionally or physically, by choosing plant-based alternatives. Visit LoveVeg.com for delicious and compassionate recipes, as well as more readily-available, cruelty-free options for meat and dairy.
