The 5th Africa Animal Welfare Conference is being held in Accra, Ghana from the 1st -3rd November 2021. The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal resources (AU-IBAR), the United Nation Environment Program (UNEP) and the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) are co-organising the 5th Animal Welfare Conference- ACTION 2021. The theme of the meeting is ‘One Health, One Welfare for a better and Greener tomorrow’.
Addressing the assembly during the opening of the event, AU-IBAR’s Acting Director General, Dr. Nick Nwankpa remarked on the unique step in the journey towards the development and integration of animal welfare in sustainable animal resources development in Africa. He further remarked that the theme is aligned to the Agenda 2063, the blue print of Africa development, and speaks to the interlinkages between sustainable economic growth, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation and healthy Humans, Healthy Animals and Healthy ecosystems.
Quoting Madam Elizabeth Mruma Mirema, the Secretary General of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity, Dr. Nwankpa highlighted that: “Large-scale deforestation, habitat degradation and fragmentation, agriculture intensification, our food systems, trade in animal species and plants, and anthropogenic climate change are drivers of biodiversity loss and new diseases”. He highlighted that AU-IBAR is clearly cognizant of the fact that the integrity of the natural triad of Animal, Planet and People is the anchor of a sustainable natural, or so-called greener, and therefore, sustainable future.
It assembly was further informed that the strong interlinkages between animal welfare, environment and socio-economic development is informing Africa Union Member States’ quest to have an Animal Welfare resolution submitted to the United Nations Environment General (UNEA) for consideration in February 2022. The aim of the Animal Welfare Resolution is to place Animal Welfare at the Center stage of the Global Environment Agenda and Sustainable Development.
The meeting attendants comprise the Minister, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Republic of Ghana; Prof. James Nkansah-Obrempong’, Chair, Board of Directors, Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo, OIE Representative, Southern Africa Region, Mr. Wolf Gordon Clifton, Executive Director, Animal People, Mr. Tennyson Williams, Regional Director – Africa, World Animal Protection, Executive Director Donkey Sanctuary, Executive Director Brooke Hospital for Animals, Directors of Veterinary Services and Animal Production from AU MS, Experts from various organizations, and National Delegates from Members States.
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Animal Welfare Conference
Speech by AU-IBAR Acting Director
