Switzerland: Postulate requests animal advocacy and animal rights

On 15 March 2024, National Councillor Martina Munz submitted a proposal to the Swiss National Council for an animal advocacy and subjective rights for animals. The postulate instructs the Federal Council to examine which legal amendments are necessary to introduce an independent animal advocate for higher-developed animals, as the interests of higher-developed animals are insufficiently protected in practice. In addition, it should be examined what conditions need to be created in order to recognise minimum subjective rights for higher-developed animals, in particular legal personality.