Hundreds of ethicists, scientists, philosophers, writers, and scholars from around the world including myself have signed a historic declaration on animal dignity.
"On this day, December 10, 2024, we, an international group of scientists, philosophers, lawyers, writers, and political scholars, unite to recognize the dignity of nonhuman animals. Together, we declare that the dignity of animals originates in their agency and autonomy, and in individual and species-specific capacities including but not limited to their rich emotional lives, relational qualities, cultures, sentience, and creativity. We declare that to acknowledge and assert the dignity of animals is to refrain from actions that degrade them to the status of being regarded purely as objects or things. Further, we declare that to respect animal dignity is to promote social, political, and legal structures that support the flourishing of life. We herewith articulate the implications of acknowledging animal dignity for human-nonhuman animal relationships and for their treatment in politics and the law."