CAIRO: Lebanon's Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan called on his government following an animal welfare workshop last Thursday to draft and enforce animal welfare laws in the country. His statements come after local animal rights groups, led by Animals Lebanon – as well as Bikya Masr's reporting – detailed the shooting of stray dogs in the capital Beirut over the past two months. “Lebanon suffers a [dearth] of animal-welfare legislation from pets to livestock and other animals,” said Hassan during the final day of an animal-welfare workshop, in comments published by The Daily Star. “The ministry encourages … the enactment of strict laws. We must make the issue of animal welfare compulsory and binding.” According to Animals Lebanon president Lana al-Khalil, the rights group has been invited to help draft new legislation to 12 Middle Eastern countries and recommend ways of preventing animal cruelty. “Enacting animal-welfare legislation is not something new or extreme for [Lebanon], it was done at independence and it can be done again now,” she was quoted as saying. “After conducting extensive research …we have drafted legislation in accordance with the Lebanese Constitution and international standards. This will not solve all animal-welfare issues but even basic regulations and enforcement will make a significant difference.” At the moment, Lebanon has not signed onto international animal welfare treaties and agreements and has little to no legislation on animal rights and anti-cruelty laws on the books. Rights organizations in the country have long documented the widespread abuse and mistreatment of animals in the country, especially in circuses, zoos and pet shops. “We unfortunately accept that facilities such as zoos and pet shops will continue to exist,” continued Khalil. “It is not our goal to try to ban such facilities but to recognize that they will continue to exist and having strict regulations can prevent the suffering of countless animals. The Agriculture Ministry has committed to formally accept our draft legislation, and working together with stakeholders like the World Animal Health Organization to present comprehensive animal-welfare laws to parliament,” she added. BM
