Thousands of Signatures Delivered to U.N. Urging a Ban on Live Animal Markets

THE DETAILS: The signatures were delivered to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, to the H.E. Mr. Munir Akram, President, U.N. Economic and Social Council c/o Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations and to the H.E.Mr. Nicolas de Rivière, U.N. Security Council President c/o Permanent Mission of the Republic of France to the United Nations, which comes weeks after the WHO reported that COVID-19 most likely originated from a non-human animal. 

In April, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) jointly called for the worldwide suspension of the sale of live, wild mammals at traditional markets—known as live animal or wet markets—due to the high risk these sales pose to human disease transmission.

Their report stated “Avian influenza viruses … can be transmitted from infected animals to humans during handling and slaughter in the traditional market setting. It is therefore important to limit, as far as possible, close contact between live animals, slaughtering operations, and humans in such markets.”

WE MUST GO FURTHER: While the report recommends ending the trade of wild animals, it conspicuously omits farmed ones. Recent history points to disease outbreaks due to animal farming, including the Avian and Swine flu. This is why Animal Equality is urging that all animals be included in recommended guidance, as not only are live animal markets an ever-present threat to human safety, they are also extremely cruel to animals. 

WHAT WE’RE SAYING: “Live animal markets pose an undeniable risk to the health and safety of people worldwide. They are breeding grounds for disease and extremely cruel and abusive to animals,” said Sharon Núñez, President of Animal Equality, who delivered the signatures to the U.N. “To protect our safety and end the suffering of countless farmed animals, the sale and slaughter of all animals must be banned at live animal markets. We urge the United Nations to heed the call of the over 569 thousand people who are demanding that the organization end live animal sales at wet markets and prevent future pandemic viruses from spreading.” 

INVESTIGATIONS SHOW THE DANGER: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which some of the scientific community believe was borne at a wet market, Animal Equality released two investigations in 2020 showing the shocking conditions at live animal markets in China, Vietnam, and India, and documented extreme neglect and animal cruelty within these unsanitary places—places that to this day continue to operate despite warnings from health officials. The investigations were accompanied by a petition calling on the U.N. to end the danger and cruelty at live animal markets. 

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF: Along with COVID-19, other disease outbreaks such as SARS and H5N1 have been scientifically linked to live animal markets. Wild and domestic animals of all kinds are packed together in these markets into small cages or spaces, where the lower levels of the cages are inundated with the fluids and excrements of the upper ones. Within these places, sanitation, hygiene, animal welfare, and humane slaughter regulations are routinely ignored. 

In the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Joseph Fair, Vice President and Director of Research and Development for Metabiota, are among the cadre of renowned scientists and virologists that have warned authorities that these markets are the perfect breeding ground for animal-borne diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75% of all new or emerging diseases in humans come from animals.

WHAT COMES NEXT: Because of our work, the world now knows of the danger and cruelty of live animal markets, however, there is still so much more to do. Animal Equality asks that the problem of live animal sales at wet markets be brought to the attention of the UN Security Council and other global leaders who have the power to swiftly enact critical restrictions on these dangerous and inhumane places. 

The delivery of over half a million signatures was an incredible milestone for animals that would not have been possible without your support. To help us continue our work and our important investigations, please consider making a donation today.