On October 17, the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC) marks one year since the launch of its landmark campaign calling for an end to the mass killing of free-roaming dogs in Morocco ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Under the theme “Everything has changed yet nothing has changed,” the anniversary serves both as a reflection on the extraordinary progress made over the past 12 months, and a stark reminder that Morocco’s dogs continue to suffer despite growing global outrage.
In the year since the campaign began, the IAWPC has transformed into a global movement, uniting animal welfare organisations, activists, and citizens from every continent in a shared mission to stop the cruelty.
The campaign has inspired international action and solidarity, from a dramatic pitch invasion by PETA during a football match, to a huge student protest in Ahmedabad, India, and solidarity demonstrations outside Moroccan embassies around the world. In the UK, the IAWPC’s representatives have taken their message to Parliament, meeting MPs and peers to urge the British Government to take a stand.
Inside Morocco, brave citizens have spoken out, filming the killings, sharing harrowing footage online, and taking to the streets in visible protest. Their courage has brought global attention to a hidden crisis that, until recently, few outside the country knew existed.
The IAWPC campaign, supported by 79 major animal charities and organisations worldwide, including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, and PETA, has focused on urging the Moroccan Government to adopt humane and sustainable dog population management methods: treat, neuter, vaccinate, and tag, rather than kill.
Among the campaign’s many high-profile supporters was the late Dr Jane Goodall DBE, who earlier this year wrote directly to FIFA, urging the organisation to intervene and help end the killings. Her words, described by the IAWPC as “a rallying cry for compassion,” continue to inspire the movement she so passionately supported.
Les Ward MBE, Chairman of the IAWPC, said:
“In just one year, the IAWPC has grown into a worldwide movement for change. From Marrakesh to Manchester, people are speaking up for Morocco’s dogs. Everything has changed, the world is watching, the world is appalled, yet for too many free-roaming dogs on Morocco’s streets, nothing has changed. The killing continues, and we will not stop until they stop.”
