Animal Walfare

 Animal protection Law in Ethiopia

Article 822 in the Criminal Code Proclamation No. 414/2004 states that in a public place, or a place open to the public or which can be viewed by the public, it is an offence to commit acts of cruelty towards animals or inflict upon them ill-treatment, revolting violence or brutality.

It is also an offence to organise shows or entertainments in which animals are treated with cruelty, are mutilated or killed, whether it be fights between animals or with animals, shooting of captive animals or other offences of a similar kind. “Animal” is not defined in the Criminal Code.

It was reported in late 2012 that the government was considering producing the country’s first law to protect animals and promote their humane care and use, entitled the Directive for Animal Welfare. As at the date of this report, it is not clear whether this is being progressed and whether the proposed draft will extend the current scope of protection for animals.

The existing legislation (Article 822 Criminal Code) presents a basic level of protection by which animals are only protected from human-inflicted suffering that is carried out in public.

Therefore the current legislation is not fully effective to make animal welfare and the issues associated with the suffering of animals of mainstream concern in Ethiopia. There is no protection relating to conduct in private or for negligent behaviour. It has been said that attention to animal welfare can improve the livelihoods of people who are dependent on animals , and the government is encouraged to consider such issues when developing future policy, legislation and awareness raising tools.