Publication – What law/rights for animals?

Aloïse Quesne is pleased to announce the publication, on the 22nd of June 2023, of the book Quel(s) droit(s) pour les animaux ? (What law/rights for animals ?), for which she was scientific director in her capacity as head of the “Towards the recognition of animal rights” research line within the Normandy Chair for Peace.

These are the proceedings of the international, multidisciplinary conference she organised on December,10 2021.

Quel(s) droit(s) pour les animaux? (What law/rights for animals ?) is dedicated to the memory of Jean-Paul Costa, author of the the book’s preface, who passed on 27 April 2023.

Presentation of the book :

« The degree of civilisation of a people can be judged by the way it treats its animals », said Gandhi. So wouldn’t our civilisation benefit from granting animals their rights?

In the wake of La sensibilité animale. Approches juridiques et enjeux transdisciplinaires (animal sensitivity. Legal approaches and transdisciplinary issues), this book explores complex issues from a multidisciplinary and comparative angle: the discovery of animal individuality and its legal translation, the granting of legal personality to animals, and the recognition of fundamental rights, such as those designed to protect animals performing work. Animal rights are placed in perspective with the rights of Nature, insofar as several States have already granted legal personality to natural entities such as rivers, mountains or forests. Issues relating to the training of judges, the proper application of laws against animal abuse, and the creation of an Animal Rights Ombudsman are also addressed in this book, with the aim of guaranteeing the welfare of animals and defending their interests.

List of the authors :

• Éric Baratay, Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Lyon, Senior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France (University Institute of France).
• Florence Burgat, Philosopher, Director of Research at INRAE/ENS, assigned since 2012 to the Husserl Archives (UMR 8547 ENS-CNRS-PSL).
• Georges Chapouthier, Doctor of Biology and Philosophy, Emeritus Research Director at the CNRS, Vice-President of the French society of zoosemiotics, Member of the Board of Directors of the Fondation Droit Animal, Ethique & Sciences (Foundation Animal law, ethics & sciences) (LFDA).
• Jean-Paul Costa, Honorary President of the Fondation René Cassin-International Institute of Human Rights, President of the European Court of Human Rights (2007-2011), Honorary Conseiller d’État, Member of the Honorary Committee of Fondation Droit Animal, Ethique & Sciences (Foundation Animal law, ethics & sciences) (LFDA).
• Marine Lercier, Pre-doctoral researcher (P.I.F.), Assistant professor, Doctoral student in animal law at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain).
• Michaël Lessard, Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Sherbrooke, Member of the Quebec Bar (Canada).
• Michèle Lis-Schaal, Magistrate, President of the chamber in charge of collective proceedings at the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence.
• Pauline Mallejac, Contractual doctoral student in public law at Aix-Marseille University.
• Stéphane Pessina, Associate Professor (HDR) in private law and criminal sciences at the University of Rouen-Normandie.
• Aloïse Quesne, Associate Professor in Private Law and Criminal Sciences at the University of Evry Paris-Saclay, Head of the research line “Towards the recognition of animal rights” within the Normandy Chair of Excellence for Peace.
• Gilles Raoul-Cormeil, Professor of Private Law and Criminal Sciences at the University of Caen Normandie, Director of the Master’s degree in Civil Law, Protection of Vulnerable Persons, Member of the Institut Caennais de Recherche Juridique (Caen Institute of Legal Research) (ICREJ).
• Laëtitia Romeiro Dias, Member of Parliament in the XVth legislature, Former member of the “Animal Condition” study group at the National Assembly, Deputy and rapporteur for the bill to strengthen the fight against animal abuse.

Table of contents

• In memoriam 
• List of authors
• Foreword
• Jean-Paul Costa
• Foreword
• Laëtitia Romeiro Dias
• INTRODUCTION
• From animal law… to animal rights
• Aloïse Quesne

PART ONE

THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF ANIMAL RIGHTS THROUGH THE AGES AND ACROSS PEOPLES

The discovery of animal individuality, XVIIIth to XIXst centuries. Process, condition, challenge

Éric Baratay

Animal rights: which rights for which animals?

Georges Chapouthier

Not being a thing and, at the same time, having the status of a thing  

Florence Burgat

SECOND PART

A TRANS-SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO ANIMAL RIGHTS: OVERCOMING TERRESTRIAL AND CONCEPTUAL BORDERS

Chapter I. From sensitivity to the legal personality of animals

For a few snowy owls. Quebec at the heart of a trans-systemic dialogue on animal rights

Michaël Lessard

Towards an animal labour law: shortcomings in the protection of animal workers and prospective law

Marine Lercier

Chapter II. Contracts and institutions in the service of animal rights

The animal protection contract. Analysis and rewriting of draft article 515-15 of the French Civil Code Gilles Raoul-Cormeil

A specific Animal Rights Defender in France

Pauline Mallejac

Chapter III. Animal law and the law of nature

Animal law and the law of other natural entities: the value of a complex and systemic approach

Stéphane Pessina

CONCLUSION

Summary report

Michèle Lis-Schaal

All the information is available on the following link : https://www.mareetmartin.com/livre/quel-s-droit-s-pour-les-animaux