Our Aim

The animal welfare strategy is designed to support the Asia-Pacific region by:

• Providing a shared framework: Offering an overarching, agreed structure and guidance for WOAH Members, non-WOAH members and partners as they implement international animal welfare standards.
• Driving regional action: Serving as a practical foundation for the development and execution of tailored local action plans.

Our Vision

Our vision is of a region where animal welfare is respected, promoted, and incrementally advanced alongside ongoing progress and socio-economic development.

While pursuing this balance presents unique challenges, it also opens up significant opportunities across the region. We address these dynamics directly through a structured framework comprised of:

• Priority goals: Core strategic pillars that guide our long-term regional focus.
• Supporting objectives: Targeted milestones designed to bridge the gap between policy and practice.
• Specific activities: Practical, measurable actions executed on the ground.

The History and Evolution

The development and implementation of the animal welfare strategy for Asia and the Pacific has been significantly supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS). Designed to foster a more consistent and effective animal welfare system, a core goal of the AAWS is to ensure active engagement in international partnerships to elevate animal care standards worldwide.

In close collaboration with the WOAH, Australia has provided vital leadership and funding to drive this regional strategy forward. To formalise management, the Director General of WOAH (formerly the OIE) established the RAWS Coordination Group (RAWS CG) in April 2010. Its initial membership comprised regional representatives, industry stakeholders, and international animal welfare non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Chaired by Dr Gardner Murray, the RAWS CG held its inaugural meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on 28–29 April 2010. Since its inception, the RAWS CG has advanced numerous strategic recommendations through WOAH Headquarters in Paris for formal endorsement by the Regional Commission.

Past Achievements & Operational Highlights

• Secretariat support: Establishing an initial secretariat within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to anchor early RAWS advisory activities.
• Multilingual translation: Translating the milestone RAWS documents into four languages and distributing copies to WOAH Members to widen regional accessibility.
• Digital visibility: Enhancing online visibility by featuring RAWS platforms across the regional WOAH animal welfare website and Australia’s DAFF portal.
• Quarterly newsletters: Launching the RAWS News newsletter framework to share updates from WOAH Members, NGOs, and industry partners. (Past issues can be accessed via the RAWS Newsletters sub-menu further down this page).
• Strategic action plans: Developing a structured Action Plan to define, track, and monitor regional welfare activities, highlighting the crucial role of WOAH Delegates in reporting local progress.
• Practical capacity building: Providing the impetus and support for the region’s first practical animal welfare training course for focal points, successfully delivered in Malaysia in 2011.
• National frameworks: Supporting WOAH Members across the region in establishing their own local animal welfare committees.
• Standards review: Collaborating with the Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission and the Animal Welfare Working Group to review WOAH global standards for the commercial slaughter of poultry, incorporating feedback from Thailand following an EU fact-finding mission.
• Focal point engagement: Working closely alongside WOAH Focal Points for Animal Welfare to actively promote and deploy regional initiatives.
• Academic & expert networking: Building robust networks with WOAH Collaborating Centres and supporting twinning initiatives between regional universities and research facilities.
• Communication strategy: Designing a comprehensive RAWS communication strategy formally endorsed by the Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific region.
• Publication success: Publishing, translating, and distributing the foundational first and second editions of the RAWS strategy document.

Regional Animal Welfare Strategy (RAWS) 

Introduction

The RAWS Coordination Group was replaced by the RAWS Advisory Group (RAWS AG). Since taking over management, the Advisory Group has successfully implemented the targeted activities established under the regional action plans.

The RAWS AG works towards a shared vision: a region where animal welfare is respected, promoted, and incrementally advanced alongside ongoing progress and socio-economic development.

Purpose

The RAWS AG drives the regional implementation of the WOAH Global Animal Welfare Strategy, ensuring it remains up to date.

RAWS Advisory Group Terms of Reference

Purpose
To support the implementation of the WOAH animal welfare strategy for Asia and the Pacific and ensure it remains up to date and relevant.

Modus Operandi
The RAWS AG works with WOAH Members, the WOAH Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare and Bioethical Analysis in the region, and regional (as well as global) partners to form specific collaborations for each agreed activity. Special activities are funded by agreement from contributing RAWS AG and WOAH Members, and parties involved with the activities.

Administrative Support and Logistics
The RAWS AG Secretariat is provided by the WOAH Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific (Tokyo, Japan) and 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 RAWS Newsletters, updating the RAWS website, and other related administrative tasks.

The RAWS AG meets virtually at least twice a year and communicates via 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 (e.g., WOAH Focal Point trainings, Regional Commission conferences).

RAWS Advisory Group Terms and Reference (following the comprehensive review in April 2026), click here.

RAWS Advisory Group Membership

A Chair is appointed by vote (during the WOAH Regional Commission meeting in line with the WOAH voting cycle) for a three-year term, renewable for one additional term. The Regional Commission will vote for the Chair from nominated candidates who may be WOAH Delegates or Animal Welfare Focal Points from the Asia and the Pacific region.

WOAH Member Representatives of the RAWS AG are nominated by Delegates of WOAH Members via application to the RAWS AG Chair, with the final list of AG members endorsed by the President of the Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Advisory Group members serve a term of three years aligned with the WOAH election cycle, with no limit on the number of terms.

• Vacancies: Vacancies arising from resignation or significant inactivity will be filled through a call for expressions of interest. In cases of inactivity, the Secretariat will attempt to confirm a member’s future availability before seeking a replacement.
• Representation: Geographical representation across the region will be a key consideration when selecting new members.

Partner Organisation Representatives and Experts are nominated by the highest authority in their organisation to the RAWS AG Chair. The Chair will consider the expertise required to undertake the current Strategy and Action Plan and select the appropriate representatives and experts from the nominations. Vacancies may not necessarily be filled by the same organisation, or may not be filled, depending on the current requirements for expertise.

The Chair, the WOAH Member Representatives, and the Partner Organisation Representatives and Experts are termed Members.

RAWS Advisory Group membership list (following the recent endorsement in May 2026), click here.

RAWS Edition 3 (2025 – 2030)

The RAWS Edition 3 (2025 – 2030) builds on the success of earlier editions, which have guided WOAH Members on future animal welfare improvements since 2008. This updated strategy aims to facilitate the implementation of WOAH Standards for animal welfare, provide a coordination framework for regional activities, and address emerging issues by encouraging cooperative partnerships between governments, industry and animal welfare organisations.

Furthermore, it recognises the ongoing efforts of regional stakeholders to protect animals and develop sustainable production systems.

Purpose
RAWS Edition 3 provides direction for the development of national action plans, allowing regional WOAH Members to implement international standards while accounting for their unique local landscapes, ecosystems and climates.

It also delivers a clear roadmap for future policy development using a consultative regional approach, facilitates the establishment of priorities aligned with agreed strategic goals, and creates a collaborative framework for WOAH Members, non-WOAH members and wider stakeholders to advance animal welfare across the region.

RAWS Edition 3 (2025 – 2030), click here.

RAWS Third Action Plan (2024 – 2028)

The RAWS Third Action Plan was established to support the comprehensive implementation of the RAWS for Asia and the Pacific. The blueprint was developed following the formal reinstatement of the RAWS AG in November 2022.

Strategic foundations

This Third Action Plan directly addresses the evolving needs of WOAH Members within the Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Its development incorporates:

• Historical outcomes: Lessons learned from the execution of the previous two RAWS action plans issued in 2012 and 2015.
• Data-driven insights: Key findings from regional surveys conducted with Animal Welfare Focal Points and Delegates in 2019 and 2021.
• Consultative feedback: Direct contributions and reviews from WOAH Delegates and Focal Points.

By building upon past achievements, the plan successfully addresses outstanding gaps and updates regional activities to align with current priorities, knowledge and resources.

Intended impact

The primary objective of this Action Plan is to achieve enhanced animal welfare alongside ongoing progress and socio-economic development across the region. This is driven by a strict focus on three operational pillars:

• Standards implementation: Enhancing the development and adoption of WOAH animal welfare standards.
• Capacity building: Expanding regional expertise through targeted education and technical training.
• Awareness & communication: Strengthening communication networks to promote deep respect and awareness of animal welfare.

A collaborative framework

Formulated by the RAWS AG, this Action Plan serves as a vital mechanism to foster collaboration between regional members and animal welfare stakeholders. By uniting partners under a common vision, the group coordinates and supports the practical execution of all activities detailed within the plan.

RAWS Action Plan (2024 – 2028), click here.