Asia-Pacific Animal Law Overview (APALO)

Project Launch – April 2024

The protection of animals from cruelty and specific criminal acts is a significant concern globally. Anti-cruelty laws and specific prohibitions falling under criminal animal legislation are pivotal for animal protection. Accessing and understanding these laws can be challenging due to variations in jurisdictions and legal language, particularly in Asia. To address this issue, the creation of a comprehensive database dedicated to knowing what is prohibited to do towards which animals and where, can serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, legal professionals, animal protection organizations, as well as for the general public.

What is the APALO project ?

In order to better access these law sources of information in the Asia-Pacific region, World Animal Justice (WAJ) is launching, in collaboration with the Institute for Animal Law of Asia (IALA), and the support of the Asia for Animals (AfA) Coalition, the Asia-Pacific Animal Law Overview (APALO) project.
It aims to compile, organize, and disseminate information regarding anti-cruelty laws and specific obligations and prohibitions that exist to protect every category of animals in the Asian countries, with Australia and New-Zealand in the Pacific region. By centralizing this information, APALO aims to become a Database of reference to facilitate easier access, comparative analysis, and understanding of the legal frameworks pertaining to animal protection and criminal laws in this region. This work is done by knowledgable animal law specialists in the various countries in this Asia-Pacific region. 

Key Features of APALO ?

• Jurisdictional coverage: The database will encompass anti-cruelty laws and specific prohibitions concerning animals from multiple jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region ensuring broad coverage.

• Legislative texts: The relevant texts of the legislation in force, including the full or the accurate provisions of the Laws, regulations etc. will be included, providing users with proper information.

• Judgements and case summaries: The database will allow to incorporate important judicial decisions related to eg. animal cruelty cases in respective jurisdictions where they are accessible.

• Comparative analysis: This database will aim to allow the comparison of different laws across countries, enabling users to identify similarities, differences, strengths, and weaknesses in the laws.

• Updates and amendments: The database will need to be regularly updated to reflect changes in existing laws in force and the enactment of new legislation, ensuring its relevance and accuracy.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the database, strategies are to be implemented, maintain technical infrastructure, and update content regularly. Partnerships with relevant stakeholders may also contribute to efficiency and sustainability efforts.

Target Audience of APALO ?

• Legal professionals and legislators
• Policy researchers and Policymakers
• Animal lawyer and animal advocates
• Animal protection organisations
• Educational institutions and academia
• General public

One set up in some months, APALO will become an essential tool in advancing animal protection efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.
By providing easy access to legal information, facilitating comparative analysis, and fostering collaboration, APALO aims to support legislative reforms, advocacy initiatives, and ultimately, improve the protection of all animals from cruelty and mistreatments generally. WAJ is honored to lead the APALO project in collaboration with ALA and AfA support in line with our goals to promote greater awareness, and foster the adoption and enforcement of anti-criminal laws towards animals worldwide.