Animal Law: Theoretical and Practical Aspects of a Growing Field

About

This course aims to introduce the students to the most relevant aspects of Animal Law, both from a theoretical and from a practical perspective, and equally at domestic and international levels.

The theoretical aspects will cover the historical and philosophical bases of the consideration of animals by human groups (moving from the status of mere ‘property’, to that of ‘property’ and ‘subject of protection’ at once), followed by a review of the practical aspects of the embodiment of these bases in Law, at a domestic level, through examples from different legal systems, as well as an international level. In this sense, we will explore the regulations corresponding to different areas, including Private, Administrative, Criminal, Constitutional and International Law. Among others, we will study the existing legislation concerning animal anti-cruelty laws; responsible ownerships of pets; animals as family members; animal experimentation; animal breeding and slaughter for consumption; wildlife protection, and hunting/fishing regulation.

Course leader

Carolina Leiva Ilabaca, animal law and criminal law professor at UAB.

Target group

The UAB Barcelona Summer School is open to standing local and international undergraduates and graduate students. International students who have been accomplished the first year of their undergraduate or at least the 50% of their first year credits at their home university could also be enroled at the programme. Working knowledge of the language instruction is highly recommended.

Course aim

The main objectives of the course are that the students are able to reach an understanding of the role of animals in Law; to learn the various ways how the Law regulates the different areas related to animals; to identify the rules and areas to be addressed in several practical cases, as much as to understand how this new field relates to the rest of a given legal system, recognizing its main limitations and challenges, all from an objective, critical, reflective and broad perspective.

Fee info