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Description
The aim of the project is to establish preconditions for responsible voluntary work in the interests of animal protection. Within the project high degree of public awareness and active participation in public administration is also equally important.
The idea of the Zoo Police is a fully-fledged public control mechanism, which works as support and partner for national and local authorities in ensuring animal protection and welfare. The project activities address the following needs: quality volunteer work in animal protection; informed, knowledgeable, involved society; active participation in the representation of animal interests.
The Foundation intends to act regularly and actively in the development of regulatory enactments and policy-making in the animal protection sector, as well as in updating and clarifying problems (discussions, conferences with industry experts); to involve volunteers in animal protection activities, to attract and train new volunteers; to provide support and advice on animal protection issues to persons and organizations; to carry out public information activities: social networks and the website of the organization.
The most important results of the project: new animal protection volunteers throughout Latvia; regular advice and support to individuals and organizations on animal protection issues; discussions on topical animal protection and welfare issues; a study on the removal and confiscation of animals; proposals for improving the legal framework; current information on social networks and on the website of the organization.
The Zoo Police is a supporting platform for all individuals and for the most active part of society, who want fully and deliberately engage in animal protection and animal protection NGO`s, particularly outside Riga and suburbs of Riga.
Summary of project results
In Latvia, the regulatory framework for animal rights is often outdated, lacks consistency or does not cover certain aspects. The legal issues of animal protection and welfare are complex, widely interpreted and often underestimated. Therefore the project was focused on the implementation of the project promoter`s strategy - participation in the state administration to achieve a systemic alignment of legislation, the development of a network of public animal protection inspectors throughout Latvia, as well as consulting the general public on the legal issues of animal protection and welfare.
During the project: the team of public animal protection inspectors has been strengthened and important data has been obtained for further advocacy work to strengthen their status and powers in the legislation;
animal protection issues and concerns were raised among the general public, decision-makers and law enforcement authorities and urgent issues were identified; significant amendments to legislation have been achieved and proposals for urgently needed amendments have been prepared; cooperation between animal protection NGOs strengthened and capacity of smaller animal protection organisations strengthened; citizens'' civic participation in animal protection issues facilitated and legal advice provided to citizens; guidelines - a practical and theoretical guide on the application of law in administrative and criminal proceedings involving animals - prepared.
During the project both the number of volunteers and the number of whistleblowers has increased. Activists from the NGO sector were also involved in civic activities, and in the process of drafting policy documents, civic participation has also increased, both in terms of submitting initiatives and collecting signatures on the civic participation platform to show support for animal rights issues.
The activities of the project have intertwined, resulting in an effective and comprehensive implementation of the objectives of the project with a long-term effect: the development of responsible volunteering with a view to a full-fledged public scrutiny mechanism in the future and participation in public administration, following current developments and changing public opinion in the field of animal protection.