.
The regional online event on the welfare of working equids
was held on 12th September 2023, with objectives to:
The meeting was organised in collaboration with the International Coalition for Working Equids and the European Union Reference Centre For Animal Welfare Ruminants & Equines.
The event highlighted the direct and indirect economic value and importance of the welfare of working equids with its sustainability and social/community dimension. In addition, the event was an opportunity to present existing tools and knowledge resources on the welfare of working equids and share experience in implementing specific ICWE projects.
Participants of the meeting confirmed the need for WOAH assistance to its members to support the implementation of WOAH standards on the welfare of working equids.
Activities for building awareness and knowledge within Veterinary Services and relevant stakeholders in targeted countries will be proposed in the 4th Action Plan of the Platform, focusing on supporting the dissemination of available knowledge resources and tools.
WOAH will continue collaborating with ICWE and other partners to plan and implement regional activities on working equids’ welfare.
Please find more info in the meeting report.
Meeting reportAGENDA
WOAH Platform on animal welfare for Europe – online event on the welfare of working equids.
12th September 2023
10:00 (CEST – Brussels time)
Opening remarks | Mereke Taitubayev (Head of WOAH Sub Regional Office for Central Asia) |
Icebreaker exercise | All |
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Global Animal Welfare Strategy (GAWS) and WOAH Terrestrial Code Chapter 7.12 Welfare of working equids’ | Leopoldo Stuardo (WOAH Standards Department) |
The importance of welfare working equids, including one health, economic, sustainability and social/community dimensions: | |
Working equids in the European Union | Joe Collins (the Donkey Sanctuary) |
Working equids and United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals | Sandra P. Zafra (World Horse Welfare) |
Interactive exercise | All |
Tools and knowledge resources: | |
ICWE’s Working Equid Standards Library of Information (WESLI) | Amy Barstow (Brooke) |
European Reference Centre for Animal Welfare (EURCAW) Ruminants and Equines: Activities to promote the welfare of working equids in EU countries | Evangelia Sossidou (EURCAW Ruminants and Equines) |
EU guides on keeping horses and donkeys and related factsheets | Joe Collins (the Donkey Sanctuary) |
Interactive exercise: How to disseminate tools and knowledge | All |
Sharing of experience – International Coalition for Working Equids | |
Vet Partnerships – Case Studies | Isabella Wild (World Horse Welfare) |
Partnership case study Brooke Pakistan and the Livestock and Dairy Development Department | Javed Gondal (Brooke) |
Interactive exercise sharing of experience from a specific project | All |
Identification of WOAH members’ needs and future activities of the WOAH Platform | Tomasz Grudnik (WOAH Sub Regional Representation office in Brussels) |
Interactive exercises – identification needs of WOAH members and future activities of the WOAH Platform | |
Discussion and closing remarks |