Today, pressure on FIFA and the Government of Morocco increased dramatically, as the 51 member organisations of Red Latinoamericana de Protección Animal (Latin American Animal Protection Network (LAPA Network)), added their powerful voice in support of the International Animal Protection – IAWPC campaign, to end the barbaric slaughter of 3-million street and owned dogs by co-host Morocco for the FIFA World Cup in 2030.
Teams of ‘killers’, tour the streets every day inhumanely poisoning, shooting, catching and killing street and owned dogs. These cruel killing programmes are in breach of all recognised and acceptable standards in relation to the humane treatment of dogs.
This violence witnessed by children, causing them psychological trauma, is also in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 19) and supporting General Comment 26 issued by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which states:
“Children must be protected from all forms of physical and psychological violence and from exposure to violence, such as domestic violence or violence inflicted on animals.”
Adults, ‘safeguarded’ under the protection of the UN Convention on Human Rights, are being punched and assaulted in other ways by members of Morocco’s ‘killing teams’, simply for using their mobile phones to record the violence.
Les Ward, Chair of the IAWPC, said –
“Morocco’s relentless and merciless brutal violence on animals and its people is condemned throughout the world. These voices have just got even louder within the renowned footballing nations of Latin America, as a result of the 51 organisations from the LAPA Network joining the fight for justice for humans and animals. Morocco seems to have forgotten that this is a World Cup not a national tournament. And as a Co-Host comes responsibilities. And what they do in the name of world football has consequences. And the message from the world is clear – NOT IN OUR NAME – STOP THE VIOLENCE – NOW”!!!
Luis Sarmiento, the Coordinator of the Latin American Animal Protection Network, commented:
“As Latin American and Caribbean nations, where dogs are highly valued and found in nearly every household, we were shocked to find out about Morroco’s inhumane plans to control the local dog population. Many of our nations have been capacity build in humane control plans while others have produced legislation against cruel control methods. Furthermore, as futbol fans and having strong national futbol teams, we want to ask FIFA to allow us to watch a cruelty-free event, in order to make it “fair play” for dogs as well.”
