World Day for the End of Speciesism

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World Day for the End of Speciesism (WoDES) is an international event aimed at denouncing speciesism, which is discrimination against nonhuman animals on the basis of their species. This global awareness day seeks to promote a more inclusive and compassionate world where all beings are treated with respect and dignity.

The concept of speciesism was first introduced by philosopher Paola Cavalieri in 1999, who argued that it shares similarities with racism and sexism, as both involve discrimination based on characteristics such as species or social status. Since its inception, WoDES has grown into a significant international event, celebrated annually on the last Saturday of August.

The World Day for the End of Speciesism was initiated in 2015 by members of the Swiss association PEA - For Animal Equality, which coordinates the International Day annually, providing assistance and visual aids to promote awareness and education about animal rights. The first edition of WoDES took place on August 22, 2015, gathering approximately 1000 people during a march organized in Geneva.

Since its inception, WoDES has gained momentum, with increasing participation from countries around the world. In 2016, ten countries participated in the second edition, and by 2017, eleven countries had joined the movement, including Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United States.

In recent years, WoDES has expanded its reach to over sixteen countries, with events taking place in Canada, Switzerland, France, Greece, Colombia, Argentina, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia, the United States, India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Poland, and Gibraltar. The movement's message of promoting animal welfare and challenging speciesist ideologies has resonated with people from diverse backgrounds.

The World Day for the End of Speciesism calls for several key actions to promote a more compassionate world. These include the abolition of property status for animals, establishment of animal welfare education at school, closure of slaughterhouses, end of fishing, withdrawal of animals from scientific experimentation, and cessation of considering animals as exploitable natural resources.

According to Yves Bonnardel and Pia Shazar, similar suffering should be considered in a similar way, regardless of the species of the individual suffering. This perspective emphasizes that all beings have inherent value and deserve respect, challenging traditional notions of speciesism and promoting a more inclusive understanding of animal rights.

As WoDES