Supported by

World Organisation for Animal Health

Introduction

The Regional Animal Welfare Strategy (RAWS) for Asia and the Pacific was developed to provide WOAH Members, non-WOAH members and partners in the region with a direction for future improvements on the welfare of animals. It was endorsed through the WOAH Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific in 2008. RAWS recognises activities undertaken by governments, industries and organisations to improve animal welfare and develop sustainable production systems in the region.

Aim

The aim of RAWS is to provide an overarching, agreed framework and guidance for WOAH Members, non-WOAH members and partners in the region when implementing WOAH Standards, and to serve as the basis for the development of Action Plans.

Vision

Our vision is a region where the welfare of animals is respected, promoted and incrementally advanced, simultaneously with the pursuit of progress and socioeconomic development. This vision presents both significant challenges and opportunities. These are reflected in the priority goals and their supporting objectives and specific activities.

Timeline for RAWS and the RAWS Advisory Group for Asia

History

Development and implementation of the RAWS has been supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy. The aim of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy is to assist in the creation of a more consistent and effective animal welfare system. One of the goals of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy is to ensure that Australia is actively engaged in international partnerships and developments to improve animal welfare. Australia has provided leadership and some funding to support the development of the regional animal welfare strategy in collaboration with WOAH.

The Director General of the WOAH (formerly known as OIE) agreed to establish a RAWS Coordination Group (RAWS CG) and nominated then-OIE regional representatives, industry, and an animal welfare international non-government organisation as its members. Dr Gardner Murray was appointed as chair and the first meeting of the RAWS CG was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 28 – 29 April 2010.

Since its first meeting in April 2010, the RAWS CG has progressed a number of recommendations through then-OIE Headquarters in Paris for endorsement through the Regional Commission. Highlights of the coordination group’s activities include:

  1. establishment of a secretariat within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to support the activities of RAWS AG
  2. translation of RAWS into four languages with copies provided to the relevant countries for further distribution
  3. ensuring RAWS visibility on websites including the regional WOAH animal welfare site and the animal welfare site of Australia’s DAFF
  4. establishing RAWS newsletters circulated on a quarterly basis, including short information contributions from countries, NGOs and industry. RAWS-News is available on this page, further below (RAWS Newsletters sub-menu)
  5. development of an Action Plan to define and track activities under the RAWS. The Action Plan notes the key role of WOAH Delegates in progressing the RAWS Action Plan, including reporting on developments for inclusion in the RAWS newsletter
  6. providing support and impetus for the delivery of an initial practical animal welfare training course in the region (the first course was held in Malaysia in 2011)
  7. supporting the establishment of national animal welfare committees in the region
  8. supporting (through the Terrestrial Animal Health Code Commission and the Animal Welfare Working Group) a review of the current WOAH standards for the commercial slaughter of poultry for human consumption by addressing feedback from Thailand arising from an EU fact-finding mission
  9. actively working with WOAH National Focal Points for Animal Welfare to promote RAWS initiatives
  10. networking with WOAH Collaborating Centres and supporting initiatives relating to the twinning of regional universities and research centres
  11. development of a RAWS communication strategy endorsed through the Regional Commission, and
  12. the publication and distribution of RAWS (Edition 1 and Edition 2), and its translation.

Introduction

RAWS Coordination Group was replaced by the RAWS Advisory Group (AG). The advisory group has since carried on and implemented activities proposed based on activities proposed in action plans. The AG works towards a region where the welfare of animals is respected, promoted and incrementally advanced, simultaneously with the pursuit of progress and socioeconomic development.

Purpose

RAWS AG supports the implementation of the WOAH Regional Animal Welfare Strategy for Asia and the Pacific and ensures it remains up-to-date. The group’s Terms of Reference (2022 May) are available here.

Activities in the Region

Newsletters (2023-24)

Terms of Reference for the RAWS Advisory Group for Asia & the Pacific

Administration

The Secretariat is provided by the WOAH Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific (RRAP) based in Tokyo, Japan. She/he works closely with the Chair in organising and reporting on meetings and in carrying out a range of RAWS functions including monitoring progress against RAWS, coordination of activities and sharing information, preparation of newsletters, updating the RAWS website. The RAWS AG meets virtually, usually twice a year, and communicates through e-mail and teleconference as necessary.  Any face-to-face meeting will be subject to funding availability, self-funded or otherwise, or held in conjunction with other opportunities (i.e., WOAH National Focal Points for Animal Welfare in-person training, Regional Commission conferences).

RAWS AG members

RAWS AG members list was endorsed at the Regional Commission meeting on 15 May 2023; below is the list presented by the Chair to the President of the of the Regional Commission during the meeting.

RAWS AG members November 2022 – present

Chair
Kate Littin New Zealand Ex-Manager Animal Welfare Team, Ministry for Primary Industries
Secretariat
Jacqueline Lusat WOAH RRAP WOAH RRAP Animal Health Information Officer
Members
Abhijit Mitra India Animal Husbandry Commissioner & Chief Veterinary Officer (Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying)
Xiao Xiao China WOAH National Focal Point for Animal Welfare
Atieh Dabaghian Iran WOAH National Focal Point for Animal Welfare
Emily Orchard-Mills Australia WOAH National Focal Point for Animal Welfare
Marzuna binti Md Yunus Malaysia WOAH National Focal Point for Animal Welfare
Madison Pannett New Zealand WOAH National Focal Point for Animal Welfare
Sripad Sosale Fiji (SPC) Animal Health and Production Adviser, Pacific Community
S Abdul Rahman Commonwealth Veterinary Association (CVA) Executive Director of CVA
Jackson Zee International Coalition for Animal Welfare (ICFAW) – Four Paws Director of Disaster Relief Unit and Interim Head Southeast Asia of Four Paws International
Yi-Chun Lin Asian Association of Veterinary Schools (AAVS) Assistant Professor – National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) Chinese Taipei
Peter Thornber Commonwealth Veterinary Association (CVA) Ex-president CVA
Leopoldo Stuardo WOAH headquarters WOAH Chargé de mission
Ashish Sutar WOAH SRR SEA WOAH Capacity Building Coordinator
Hirofumi Kugita WOAH RRAP WOAH Regional Representative for Asia & the Pacific
Observers
Linda Wilkin-Krug New Zealand Principal Adviser Animal Welfare, Ministry for Primary Industries
Adhiraj Mishra India Assistant Commissioner (Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying)
Praveen Malik India Ex-Animal Husbandry Commissioner (Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying)
Suresh S Honnappagol India Ex-Animal Husbandry Commissioner (Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying) and Ex-Vice Chancellor
O P Chaudhary India WOAH National Focal Point for Animal Welfare
Jeff Zhou International Coalition for Animal Welfare (ICFAW) – CIWF Chair for ICFAW for AFEO region & China Chief representative for Compassion in World Farming (CIWF)