MENAW Conference – March 2010

Conference Recommendations

These recommendations, adopted by majority vote at the closing conference session
 on 3 March 2010, do not constitute formal MENAW policy positions.

1. The Conference strongly condemns the use of shooting and poisoning as a means of animal population control
2. The Conference calls for all Middle East Countries to tightly comply with the CITES convention to which all these countries are signatories, including handling of confiscated animals. The Conference further calls for rehabilitation in WAZA approved facilities.
3. The Conference calls for focus and pressure regarding livestock issues to be placed on both the countries of origin and destination, including adhering to international standards for humane transport.
4. The Conference calls for stronger supervision of slaughter practices, with emphasis on pre-slaughter stunning in accordance with Islamic teaching.
5. The Conference encourages transition to vegetarian diets to improve health, environment and animal welfare.
6. The Conference calls on the media to recognize the concern for animal welfare. 

The MENAW Conference endorses the following
resolutions passed unanimously by the 1st North Africa and Middle East Seminar on Alternatives to Animal Experiments in Education and Training,
Cairo, 27 February 2010:

  The participants:

1- Recognise that animals are sentient beings and that life in all its forms should be fully respected

2- Recognise the pedagogical, ethical, environmental and economic advantages of humane and innovative alternatives over harmful animal use (animal experimentation and the dissection of purpose-killed animals) in life science education and training

3- Recognise the imperatives within all religions and belief systems, and within secular ethical thought, that support respect for life and the replacement of harmful animal use with alternatives

4- Join the global movement for humane education and call for full replacement of   harmful animal use with alternatives