Because our animals need the law to be on their side too!
Johannesburg, South Africa (30 March 2022) – For the first time on the African continent, the Faculty of Law at the University of Johannesburg will be offering a short learning programme focused on Animal Law!
Unfortunately, only humans can apply to the new course entitled: “Foundations of Animal Law”, but this is really good news for all animals who will benefit from the programme, which will be led by Professor David Bilchitz and Amy P. Wilson through the Faculty of Law at the University of Johannesburg.
This programme will introduce participants to the way in which the law and policy intersect with animals and explore cutting-edge legal developments in this area. It will provide an understanding of the main regulatory framework governing animal law in South Africa and further analyse the gaps, realities and opportunities for providing greater protection for nonhuman animals in law and policy.
The programme is held online in the evenings (SA Time) and is broken down into ten sessions. Delegates who successfully complete the programme will qualify for a certificate from the University signalling their completion of the course. The course is open to all, and applications close on 31 March 2022.
The duration of the lecture portion of the programme is five weeks, with two lectures per week (May 2022 – June 2022) culminating in the requirement to write a detailed position paper at the end of the course (for which another few weeks will be provided).
What is Animal Law?
Animal law includes all facets of the law and policy, including but not limited to legislative, judicial and executive that relates to, consider and interact with the interests and issues of non-human animals or the interests of humans with respect to animals. It is extremely broad, and there is no universal definition, but what is important is that it considers the interests of the animals themselves.
It is an extremely exciting field that is growing all around the world and overlaps with various other areas of law. Some of these include constitutional law, commercial law, law of delict, property law, criminal law, environmental law, international law, family law, administrative law, wills and estates, and the list goes on!
It encompasses issues relating to companion animals, wild animals, animals used in entertainment, animals used in scientific research, farmed animals, aquatic animals – and all other animals.
It also interacts with other subject areas – such as science, politics, humanities – and others.
Course Leaders
Professor David Bilchitz is a Professor of Fundamental Rights and Constitutional Law at the University of Johannesburg and Professor of Law at the University of Reading. He is also Director of the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC) and Vice-President of the International Association of Constitutional Law. He is also a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. Bilchitz has a BA (Hons) LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand and an MPhil and PhD from the University of Cambridge. In relation to animal law, Prof Bilchitz is a director of Animal Law Reform South Africa and has been involved actively in changing the plight of animals in South Africa. He has also written several articles considering the changes that the new democratic constitutional order – that emerged in South Africa in 1994 – should bring about in relation to the status and entitlements of animals.
Attorney Amy P. Wilson is an attorney and the first South African to graduate with a master’s degree in Animal Law. Amy has BCom, LLB and LLM degrees and previously practised corporate commercial law as a senior associate before leaving practice to focus on social justice in academia and research. Amy is co-founder and director of the first dedicated animal law nonprofit in the country – Animal Law Reform South Africa, and holds several leadership roles in animal protection nonprofits throughout Africa. Amy has worked as a fellow at UCLA School of Law in Los Angeles, California and at the world’s premier animal law programme at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. She has consulted for academic and international animal protection organisations. She was recently appointed as a United Nations in Harmony with Nature Independent Expert for South Africa, a programme focusing on the rights of nature in law and policy. She has published in international peer-reviewed journals and books and presented to audiences around the world.
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