SENTIENT LAW has been co-created by Liz Solari and Leonardo Barnabá. It has been introduced in the Argentinian Congress the 22nd of November 2022. It has the support of national legislators, more than 30 national and international NGOs, dozens of national celebrities, and the Argentine society.

The law does not foresee differences between food animals that are consumed and that are not consumed, or between domestic and non-domestic animals, but refers to all of them as a whole. The law will not prohibit animal consumption but it is the first big step to enable legal action in favor of animal mistreatment. Once they have been declared non-human persons subject to law, it is the jurisprudence, the judges, who will be responsible for resolving each case that arises. There is no doubt that this reform implies a great improvement in terms of reducing suffering, surpassing what has been permitted until now by welfare laws.

The law focuses on one goal, to take a historic step to consider all animals as subject to law and to prohibit animal exploitation and cruelty in general. In case it is observed that raising breed animals involves suffering, confinement, or mistreatment, this law will allow that in addition to the criminal prosecution against those responsible, which is now possible thanks to law 14.346, a civil compensation can be obtained in favor of the animals (which may be used for their veterinary treatments, for example) and the completion of the commercial activity of the responsible of animal mistreatment.

The rights that would be given to animals are strictly limited to the Law Project (please read law project on our website)

SENTIENT has a social character that impacts on the health and safety of our society. The WHO (World Health Organization) considers human, animal and environmental health as part of ONE HEALTH. One does not exist without the other. The more economic deterioration, the greater the health risks to animal and human populations. This reform will force the State to take responsibility for animal health within the framework of its rights, therefore it will benefit human health. WHO says that 75% of the new infectious diseases detected in the last three decades originated in animals. Mass urbanization, industrial agriculture, the destruction of natural habitats and living closer to animals increase the risk of mutations and contagion between species. In addition, we need to raise the status of animals in order to protect them, and our society. An animal abuser is 5 times more likely to commit violent crimes, such as physical assault, rape, and murder.