This World Week for Animals in Laboratories (April 21 to April 27), Animal-Free Science Advocacy (AFSA) is calling out cruel and outdated animal experiments and calling for investment in animal-free research methods. The week is a time to reflect on the plight of animals who have suffered and died in laboratories, and inspire collective action for meaningful change.
Each year in Australia, millions of animals are subjected to harmful experiments in the name of science. Traumatic brain injury, forced smoking, food deprivation, xenotransplantation, invasive primate experiments and even violent acts such as strangulation are inflicted upon defenceless animals. Shockingly, much of this animal testing is funded by Australian taxpayer dollars.
Practices that would otherwise be cruelty offences are permitted when carried out under the authority of a scientific license, and approved by an animal ethics committee; resulting in a system of self-regulation that is failing animals and human patients.
With failure rates of drugs following animal testing as high as 95%, it’s hard to justify this treatment of thinking and feeling beings.
AFSA is committed to a future where no animals are harmed in the name of science, and scientific progress is advanced through animal-free research methods. The national not-for-profit organisation will be using the week dedicated to animals in laboratories to bring public attention to the use of animals in research in Australia; encouraging supporters to participate in coffee mornings, donate or become a member.
Funds raised will help AFSA continue to:
- Expose the hidden realities of animal research;
- Campaign for reform
- Collaborate with the scientific community to expand animal-free innovation.
AFSA Spokesperson Rachel Smith states “Animals in laboratories are out of sight from the Australian public but they their suffering has not gone unnoticed. World Week for Animals in Laboratories is an important week to raise attention to their plight and advocate for scientific progress that does not come at the cost of animal lives”.
Key Facts:
World Week for Animals is an internationally recognised week to acknowledge the plight of animals in laboratories
Australia’s outdated animal research practices under scrutiny as calls grow for investment in cruelty-free science
Animal-Free Science Advocacy encouraging supporters to host coffee mornings or become an AFSA member to support our work in advocating on behalf of animals in labs.
About us:
Animal-Free Science Advocacy is a national non-profit organisation advocating for the replacement of animals in research and teaching.
Contact details:
For interviews, contact Rachel Smith, CEO Animal-Free Science Advocacy on 0415 227 815 or via email rachelsmith@animalfreesci.org.au
