UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF ANIMAL RIGHTS
Unesco, Paris, 15 October 1978

Premise:
- Considering that every animal has rights;
- considering that the disregard and contempt of these rights have led and continue to lead man to commit crimes against nature and against animals;
- considering that the recognition by the human species of the right to existence of other animal species constitutes the foundation for the coexistence of species in the world;
- considering that genocides are perpetrated by man and others are threatened by them;
- considering that human respect for animals is linked to respect for each other;
- considering that education must teach from childhood to observe, understand, respect and love animals.

It proclaims:
Article 1
All animals are born equal before life and have the same rights to exist.
Article 2
a) Every animal has the right to respect;
b) man, as an animal species, cannot give himself the right
to exterminate other animals or to exploit them in violation of this right.
He has the duty to put his knowledge at the service of animals;
c) every animal has the right to consideration, care and protection of man.
Article 3
a) No animal must be subjected to mistreatment and cruel acts;
b) if the killing of an animal is necessary, it must be instantaneous, without pain, nor
distress.
Article 4
a) Every animal belonging to a wild species has the right
to live free in its natural terrestrial, aerial or aquatic environment and has the right to reproduce;
b) any deprivation of liberty, even if for educational purposes, is contrary to this right.
Article 5
a) Every animal belonging to a species that habitually lives in the human environment has the right to live and grow according to the rhythm and conditions of life and freedom that are proper to its species;
b) any modification of this rhythm and of these conditions imposed by man for commercial purposes is contrary to this right.
Article 6
a) Every animal that man has chosen as a companion has the right to a life span conforming to his natural longevity;
b) abandoning an animal is a cruel and degrading act.
Article 7
Every working animal has the right to reasonable limitations on the duration and intensity of work, to adequate nutrition and to rest.
Article 8
a) Animal experimentation involving physical or mental suffering is incompatible with animal rights whether it is a medical, scientific, commercial or any other form of experimentation;
b) replacement techniques must be used and developed. 
Article 9
If the animal is raised for food, it must be fed, housed, transported and killed without causing anxiety and pain.
Article 10
a) No animal must be used for human amusement;
b) animal shows and shows that use animals are incompatible with the dignity of the animal.
Article 11
Any act that involves the killing of an animal unnecessarily is a biocide, that is, a crime against life.
Article 12
Any act involving the killing of a large number of wild animals is a genocide, that is, a crime against the species;
b) pollution and destruction of the natural environment lead to genocide.
Article 13
a) Dead animals must be treated with respect;
b) the scenes of violence in which animals are victims must be prohibited in cinema and television unless they are intended to show an attack on the rights of the animal.
Article 14
a) Animal protection and safeguarding associations must be represented at government level;
b) the rights of the animal must be defended by law as well as human rights.

The Universal Declaration of Animal Rights, drawn up by the International League of Animal Rights, was presented in Brussels on January 26, 1978 and signed by personalities from the philosophical, legal and scientific world; it was subsequently proclaimed in Paris, at the Unesco headquarters on October 15, 1978, in the presence of Remy Chauvin, ethologist and writer. Alfred Kastler, Nobel Prize in Physics, HE Hamza Boubakeur, rector of the Muslim Institute of the Paris Mosque, Prof. Georges Heuse.
The Italian delegation was made up of Dr. Laura Girardello, Dr. Giovanni Peroncini, Prof. Mario Girolami and Prof. Clara Genèro.  

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Source:   mite.gov.it