Brussels/ 04 October 2024 – Unweaned calves transported for up to 21 hours without enough food or water, laying hens spending their entire life in cages the size of approximately an A4 page, and more than eight million foxes, minks, racoons and other animals killed each year for their fur. This is just a glimpse of some of the realities of animals in Europe.

The photo exhibition “Silent Suffering” exposes the hidden cruelties animals are facing behind closed doors in the European Union (EU) every day. Co-organised by FOUR PAWS and Eurogroup for Animals, an exclusive viewing event was held at the Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels on the 1st of October and brought together Members of the European Parliament, along with other policy-makers and animal advocates from across Europe.

“This exhibition is a visual reminder of the suffering that animals in Europe continue to face, often behind closed doors, silently. These sentient beings don’t have a voice in politics, but citizens do, and they have been vocal in their calls for better animal welfare legislation, one that adequately protects animals across their lifetime. We ask the European Commission to not look away, and to prioritise this issue in this term by revising the entire animal welfare legislation - there can be no more delays", commented Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals.

Featuring photographs across nine categories, including cage-farming, transport, broilers, aquatics, fur farming, animals used in science, large carnivores, pets and trade issues, the exhibition depicts the ongoing suffering for animals of all kinds - wild, farmed, aquatic and companion animals.

Over 16 animal welfare organisations, members of  Eurogroup for Animals’ network and partner organisations contributed the images from their investigations and activities on the ground.

Loud Call for a revision of animal welfare

While the EU should be a frontrunner in animal welfare, billions of animals continue to endure pain and distress, while prevented from exhibiting their natural behaviours, as outdated EU legislation falls severely short of ensuring adequate protection.

In the past term, the European Commission has publicly committed to revising the EU animal welfare legislation, including a ban on cages, regulating the keeping of animals, transport, slaughter and labelling. In addition, a European Citizens’ Initiative was submitted, asking for a ban of fur farming.

To call for the urgent delivery of the long overdue revision and improved animal welfare, on 2 October, a group of representatives of animal welfare organisations across Europe gathered in front of the European Commission. Such delay continues to maintain the everyday suffering of animals as a status quo.

Press Contact

Emilie Rateau,  EU Communications Coordinator, FOUR PAWS in Belgium
emilie.rateau@four-paws.org
+32 470 03 53 03