NGO Thematic Report Informing on UN General Comment 26 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child & Unification With UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals

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September 2023

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Summary

The following report is presented by European Link Coalition in collaboration with other organisations. Attention has been drawn by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child about the existence of activities involving children and adolescents below the age of 18 (hereinafter children) that violate a nation’s obligations under the Convention.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has adopted UN General Comment 26 which includes ‘Children must be protected from all forms of physical and psychological violence and from exposure to violence, such as domestic violence or violence inflicted on animals’.  The Committee had previously issued 'Concluding Observbations' to various States Parties identifying  ‘Harmful Effects’ caused to children witnessing violent animal abuse & to advise nations where this takes place, to ensure that children are not exposed to these practices. The Committee has declared to “Increase efforts to change violent traditions and practices that negatively affect the well-being of children (…)”.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child had included an express statement regarding the violation of the rights of people under 18 years old in the formulation of the Concluding Observations of the following countries regarding witnessing bullfighting: Portugal (2014 and September 2019), Colombia (February 2015), Mexico (June 2015), Peru (February 2016), France (February 2016), Ecuador (October 2017) and Spain (February 2018), identifying harmful effects to children participating & witnessing violent animal abuse.

These issues were raised as a recommendation to the authorities of Tunisia & Azerbaijan, to prevent children from exposure to violent societal animal abuse by authorities homeless animal management programs. This had been an expansion of the Committees previous recommendations that children should not be exposed to bullfighting because of ‘Harmful Effects’ caused to the child. Implicit in these recommendations is acknowledgement of a child’s empathetic connection with fellow sentient beings, independent of species.

During the 94th Session of the Committee in September 2023, UN General Comment 26 was launched. UN General Comment 26  explicitly references 'violence inflicted on animals' & places a 'legally binding' ‘strict obligation’ on States Parties.  ‘ Children must be protected from all forms of physical and psychological violence and from exposure to violence, such as domestic violence or violence inflicted on animals’ (GC26 G35)

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Index

1.Violent Government Homeless Animal Control Practices Witnessed by Children: policies, evidence-base information and key concerns

2.Violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and General comments: articles 3, 6, 19.1 and 27.1.

3.Domain unification of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with UN Sustainable Development Goals

4.Children’s Right to Be Heard (article 12)

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5. Best Interests of the Child

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6.Recommendations

7.Academic Study Papers

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1.Violent Government Homeless Animal Control Practices
Witnessed by Children: policies, evidence-base information and key concerns

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A subsequent study conducted by Teesside University, UK (Plant et al,2016) explored the effects of violent practices against animals, witnessed by children in societies where homeless animal populations are subject to management by killing with violent practices.
The effects were the same as identified in exposure to bullfighting but on a significantly greater scale exercising this practice in public and witnessed by children (Ladny R.T & Meyer,L (2019). Violent government activity invites a normalisation of violence (Thompson K.L & Gullone. E. (2006)
Passivity allows uncontrolled numbers of homeless animal populations with attendant social status diminishment, encouraging societal violence against animals, again witnessed by children.
Violent Animal Abuse Practices & the Children – VIDEO: Click on this image to view an extended video of violent animal abuse practices & testimonies from children who have witnessed the violence It should be noted that the video contains harrowing scenes & for child protection professionals unable to continue viewing, please consider that the children have no such choice.
A reaction is expected.. ignorance is not an option.

 

Violence inflicted on animals in the presence of a child takes place in different forms &  in diverse cultures. Such 'traditions & practices' include homeless animal population control programs of publicly shooting or poisoning the animals.

Bullfighting & associated traditions.

Children taken 'trophy hunting'

Animal sacrifice festivals.

The criterion now is not desire for retention of such 'traditions & practices' but their negative effects on the psychopathology of the child & the Child's Human Rights. 
 

 

It should be noted that although some of these practices may be a nocturnal activity, the children are affected by hearing the sounds of violence, can witness this from their windows & also see animals dying on the streets after only being severely wounded.
It should also be noted that eradication practices promote social stigmatization of the animals which encourages a normalization of violence against animals & which is evidenced to also potentially be enacted in the human domain, typically with domestic violence & child abuse..

With homeless animal 'killing programs' this could all be prevented if a national neutering program as recommended by World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)  , World Health Organisation (WHO) (as also effective in rabies control) and Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, (FVE)  as the ONLY effective homeless animal management practice replaced the killing practices.


 

 

2.Violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and
General Comments: Articles 3, 6, 12, 19.1 and 27.1.

The situation in many countries in relation to children and violent animal abuse practices violates the following articles of the Convention:
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General principles: articles 3 and 6
Protection and care of well-being of children and best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

GENERAL COMMENT no. 5 (2003) general measures of implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. “Article 3, paragraph 1 -In all actions concerning children the best interests of the child shall be the primary consideration.
According to Concluding observations (2010) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/TUN/CO/3(32), Committee concerns about the views of children not being sufficiently taken into account and respected.
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Civil rights and liberties: article 19.1
State Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence.
The State Party has not taken appropriate steps to protect children from the mental harm of abuse caused by children being exposed to violent homeless animal management practices.

According to Concluding observations (2010) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/TUN/CO/3 (42), the Committee encourages the State party to prioritize the elimination of all forms of violence against children and recommends that the State party pay particular attention to prohibit all forms of violence against children and use the recommendations of the United Nations Study on Violence against Children as a tool for action in partnership with civil society and, in particular, with the involvement of children to ensure that all children are protected from all forms of psychological violence and to gain momentum for concrete and time-bound actions to prevent and respond to such violence and abuse.
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Wellbeing and basic health: article 27.1
Article 27. 1. The State Parties recognize the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.
Recognition of the right included in article 27.1 is violated when dealing with public animal killing, as the mental, spiritual and moral development of children is severely compromised by the experience linked to the activity and to traumatic consequences and after-effects of viewing such an event (habituation of violence, traumatic effects, moral desensitization and disturbance of values).

Similarly, the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations on "Children's Rights" A/RES/61/146, of 19 December 2006 condemned all forms of violence against children and urges States to take effective legislative and other measures to prevent and eliminate violence in all its forms (physical, mental and psychological).
Thus, the State Party has not adopted the necessary legislative and administrative measures to ensure children such protection and care as is necessary for their wellbeing and to protect against mental abuse in public places.

The physical, mental, spiritual and moral development of children is severely compromised by the danger linked to the activity and to traumatic consequences and after-effects of viewing such events. Witnessing public killing of sentient beings often befriended by the children does not foster the development of those educational values incumbent on the State Parties.

The Committee has already declared its position on the exposure of children to violent animal abuse with UN General Comment 26 providing authoritative guidance with ‘ Children must be protected from all forms of physical and psychological violence and from exposure to violence, such as domestic violence or violence inflicted on animals’
Various psychological studies on violence and animal abuse have
shown that witnessing or participating in the violence inherent in bullfights and witnessing public violence against homeless animals can have the following negative impacts on children:

Traumatic effects on children, who cannot freely express their feelings in an environment shaped by adults. A child’s normal reaction to the sight
of an animal bleeding as a result of human violence is always, on principle, one of rejection, distress, and fear. Progressive desensitization with an erosion of affective empathy & progressive normalisation of violence from traumatization potentially life-affecting, are among identified results (Merz-Perez, L., Heide, K. M., & Silverman, I. J.
(2001).

Habituation to violence if we show them that gratuitous violence can be acceptable and even recommendable. Witnessing the mistreatment of animals perpetuates the cycle of violence by desensitization and imitation of behaviours, especially among people who are at an age when they are learning and being taught.

As a result, significant evidence exists showing that youths who repeatedly witness the mistreatment of animals might be more susceptible to “learning” to use violence in their personal relationships (Wright, J., & Hensley, C. (2003), Murrell, A. R. Merwin, R. M., Christoff, K. A., & Henning, K. R. (2005), Daly, B., & Morton, L. L. (2008), Buka, S. L., Stichick, T. L., Birdthistle, I., & Earls, F. J. (2001).

Confusion of values because the child’s opinion of what is fair and unfair is destabilized. Public killing of innocent domesticated animals is the negation of what children understand a value to be. Children’s ability to feel empathy is not only limited to human beings; they can also feel it for animals. This is based on the concept of biophilia - the innate emotional bond that humans have towards other living creatures - a predisposition that is particularly strong in children. Killing animals also runs contrary to law - and children know that mistreatment of animals is punishable by law in many countries.

Weakening of the moral compass at a time when children need to find role models to identify with. Children, anxious to preserve the image of their parents and to avoid conflicts of loyalty, have no option but to deny the brutality they have witnessed and to hide all feelings of compassion towards the animal victim. A progressive desensitization process ensues with an erosion of affective empathy and a normalisation of violence which can then be taken into the child's adult world and enacted against people and property. A Cycle of Abuse can be created which results in an increased likelihood of child safeguarding issues and domestic violence. All forms of public violence against animals can cause 'Harmful Effects' to the observing child whether these practices include shooting, poisoning or violent removal for later slaughter.

40 years of research has provided academic resilience to the 'link' between animal abuse & its associations in the human domain. This now informs many authorities including the FBI (USA) and College of Policing (UK).

Children exposed to violent practices suffer sometimes life changing effects. Effects include empathy erosion & a normalisation of violence.
 

 

 

3.Domain Unification of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
with UN Sustainable Development Goals

 

Following a body of research into the effects on children exposed to violent animal abuse traditions & practices, a resultant report was submitted to the UNCRC. During the 87th Session of the Committee these issues were raised as a recommendation to the authorities of Tunisia, to prevent children from exposure to societal animal abuse. This had been an expansion of the Committees recommendation that
children should not be exposed to bullfighting because of ‘Harmful Effects’ caused to the child.

Significant research conducted over decades also attests to effects on children exposed to violent practices. These can include erosion of empathy & a normalisation of violence which is often taken into adulthood & enacted in the form of domestic violence & child abuse. Effects are caused to the child exposed to violent animal abuse because of a child’s empathic engagement with the sentience of the animal.

Relating the UN Committee recommendations for 2030 Agenda & each relevant SDG :-
Agenda Point 8 ‘ children growing up free from violence ‘ Concerns of the UN Committee was that children can normalise violence by experiencing violent animal abuse. UN Convention Articles 3, 6, 19 & 27 UN General Comment 26 Section G: states that:
‘Children must be protected from all forms of physical and psychological violence and from exposure to violence, such as domestic violence or violence inflicted on animals.’
Agenda Point 9 Envisage a world where …humanity lives in harmony with nature & in which wildlife & other living species are protected’

UN General Comment 26 states ‘The developmental benefits of a healthy environment include those linked to opportunities to experience outdoor activities and to interact with and play in natural environments, including the animal world.’ - GC26 Section C para 23
SDG 3 UNCRC concerns about the mental health of children exposed to violent practices against homeless animals. UN Convention Article 19 ‘to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence’

SDG 4 Quality Education UNCRC Article 27 & 29 ‘a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development’
SDG 15 Life on Land. Recognition that empathic connection with other sentient beings is a natural human function & one which can be eroded by exposure to external influences.
SDG 16 Perception of injustice to fellow sentient beings. UNCRC Article 29.

 

SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Protection of children from experiencing violent practices against homeless animals requires a partnership solution to humanely remove animal numbers from the streets. The sole solution is a WHO, WOAH & FVE recommended national neutering program. UNDP had already engaged with such a program in Bosnia even before learning of the human impact & the recommendations of UNCRC.

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How the SDGs can be used to assist the UN CRC protect the child and their rights by protecting animals from societal violence.

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Goal 3 – Health and Wellbeing

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UNCRC say the mental health and well being of children is affected by witnessing violence against homeless animals. During the violent culls by government contractors, children witness dogs being shot, poisoned, beaten. Not all dogs die quickly, many are left to die slowly on the streets. The children's mental health and general well being will be affected especially if the children have formed relationships with local dogs who they had previously been feeding and playing with. This is now recognised by UNCRC. Similarly children exposed to the violence of bullfighting. Implicit in UNCRC recommendations is a recognition that children can be 'harmfully affected, because ofa  child's natural empathetic connection with the sentience of an animal, independent of species.

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Goal 4 – Quality Education

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Homeless animals are treated like vermin by many governments. There are often no laws to protect them from abuse. When children grow up seeing dogs kicked and beaten on the street, abused by adults, then the children grow up to do the same. This is mis-education. This is teaching children that stray dogs are vermin. It is academically and empirically evidenced that this creates a normalisation of violence and displaced aggression. This is not in line with the teachings of the UN holistic agenda or 2030 Agenda introduction point 9 above.

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SDG 15 – Life on Land

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As the UN 2030 Agenda says, all living species should be protected. The UN also states that no matter how ' low' the value of animal, they all require the same protection. Extensive homeless animal populations have been shown to invite violent practices both from government management programs & from society where social status of animals is diminished. This is not what the UN ethos imagines for any animal. Again please note 2030 Agenda introduction point 9 above. Similarly, UNCRC addressing 'societal violence against animals' because of effects on the child is implicit within the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. With a rationale to protect the future of our planet and the future custodians will be the children, it is essential to ensure that the child is protected from 'harmful effects, including those caused by experiencing violent practices against animals, which may cause aberations to their mental health.

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SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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A society where the cries of stray dogs being abused by gangs of youth can be heard, is not a peaceful society. Worse still is the injustice caused by government workers during their mass culls. Small children will notice the injustice when they see a local dog they have formed a relationship with, lying on the ground dying in a pool of blood. They will notice the injustice of a dead mother dog who has been shot in the head, her blood cold, while her puppies still suckle on her. In light of the UN's new agenda, strong institutions and effective governments are those that follow and respect international guidelines (in this case, the guidelines already produced by OIE and WHO on humane management of stray dogs). (And in the case of Tunisia, the UN CRC have already produced further guidelines for the government to follow on humane stray dog management, to protect the child from violence).

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SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

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This goal aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, and provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. To protect the child from witnessing stray dog abuse, partnerships should be formed. The UN CRC has already formed partnerships with animal rights groups in this matter. We hope UNDP can form a partnership with the Governments and with the UN CRC regarding stray dogs and the Rights of The Child. (UNDP Bosnia in the past have assisted the Bosnia Government with stray dogs). As recommended by WHO, WOAH & FVE, humane neutering programs provide the only effective way of reducing homeless animal populations & also protect children from experiencing potentially life changing effects from witnessing violent practices conducted against animals. 

 

4.Children’s Right to Be Heard

Article 12 1. State Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

Children Expressing Their Feelings -VIDEO: Click on this image to view a short video which includes children expressing their feelings about having to see violent public animal abuse practices.
The video is being shared globally on social media platforms to 'inform & invite' public awareness & involvement

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5. Best interests of the child

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 Recalling its general comment No. 14 (2013) on the right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration and its previous recommendations, the Committee recommends that the State party:

            (a) Ensure that the principle of the best interests of the child is consistently applied in all administrative and judicial proceedings, as well as in policies, programs and projects that are relevant to, and have an impact on, children;

            (b) Finalize the procedure, with a clear set of criteria, to provide guidance to all relevant persons in authority for determining the best interests of the child in every area and for giving it due weight as a primary consideration;

            (c) Evaluate and eliminate, on the basis of the procedure and criteria described above, practices, policies and services that may not be in the best interests of the child, including those relating to societal violence against animals.

 

Reference to General Comment No 14 (2013) on the right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration, including practices, policies & services which may not be in the best interests of the child, including those relating to societal violence against animals.

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The main purpose of a General Comment is to promote implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child & assist States Parties in fulfilling their reporting obligations.

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General Comments provide an authoritative interpretation of the rights contained in the articles & provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

General Comments are seen as a valuable contribution to the development & application of international law.

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Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states the following:

“1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child. 

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UN General Comment 13 states :

Legal analysis of article 19, paragraph 1 

1. “… all forms of ...” No exceptions. The Committee has consistently maintained the position that all forms of violence against children, however light, are unacceptable. “All forms of physical or mental violence” does not leave room for any level of legalized violence against children. Frequency, severity of harm and intent to harm are not prerequisites for the definitions of violence. States parties may refer to such factors in intervention strategies in order to allow proportional responses in the best interests of the child, but definitions must in no way erode the child’s absolute right to human dignity and physical and psychological integrity by describing some forms of violence as legally and/or socially acceptable. 

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3. “shall take …” 37. “Shall take” is a term which leaves no leeway for the discretion of States parties. Accordingly, States parties are under strict obligation to undertake “all appropriate measures” to fully implement this right for all children

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UN General Comment 26  on the Rights of the Child with a special focus on the environment and climate change adopted in May 2023 & launched in September 2023 includes ' “Children must be protected from all forms of physical and psychological violence and from exposure to violence, such as domestic violence or violence inflicted on animals.”

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Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_Pet_Animals

 

In many nations societal violence against animals is promoted because of inadequate homeless animal management programs with violent practices being normalised by societies.

 

The primary declared function of the Council of Europe is Human Rights and its European Charter includes:

'The Charter lays specific emphasis on the protection of vulnerable persons such as elderly people, children, people with disabilities and migrants. It requires that enjoyment of the abovementioned rights be guaranteed without discrimination.' - CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (2000/C 364/01) Article 24

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Compliance with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommendation to 'eliminate societal violence against animals'can be achieved by enactment of the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals

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​'Once the treaty enters into force in respect of a State, it becomes LEGALLY binding and the State MUST implement its provisions'.   https://rm.coe.int/16802f5aff   FAQ Item 3

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5.Concluding Recommendations

Violent government homeless animal management practices are both historically proven to be unsuccessful but also unnecessary. WHO, WOAH & FVE all advise national neutering programs as the ONLY effective solution.

European Link Coalition makes the following recommendations in order that State Parties meet their obligations pursuant to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment 26 ‘Children must be protected from all forms of physical and psychological violence and from exposure to violence, such as domestic violence or violence inflicted on animals’ :

That State Parties adopt the appropriate legislative or administrative humane measures to prevent children from being exposed to the violent killing of animals witnessed by children & violent government homeless animal management policies which encourage societal violence against animals..

That State Parties ensure that children are not permitted to participate or attend bullfighting.

That State Parties ensure that children are prevented from accompanying or participating in ‘trophy hunting’.

That State Parties protect children from attending animal sacrifice festivals.

That UNICEF, in compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child General Comment 26, seek to ensure protection of children from experiencing violent animal abuse by informing all UNICEF country offices & challenging respective governments to cease all violent animal abuse traditions & practices which can affect the children.

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The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, or UNCRC, is the basis of all of UNICEF’s work. It is the most complete statement of children’s rights ever produced and is the most widely-ratified international human rights treaty in history.

Recognition of empathic regard for fellow sentient beings as a natural human function & a commitment to reduce speciesism as an unnatural division.

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UN General Comment 26  on the ' Rights of the Child with a Special Focus on the Environment and Climate Change' includes ' “Children must be protected from all forms of physical and psychological violence and from exposure to violence, such as domestic violence or violence inflicted on animals” This unifies with UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 'We envisage a world in which humanity lives in harmony with nature...in which wildlife & other living species are protected'

Embracing these issues with recognition of natural empathetic connections with sentient animals within Goal 15 ‘Life on Land’ of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

UNSDP provides support to these programs.

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Council of Europe enforces the Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals in compliance with UN General Comment 26 to protect the Human Rights of the Children of Member countries.

 

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6.Academic Study Papers

 

Ascione, F. R. (1993). Children who are cruel to animals: A review of research and implications for developmental psychopathology. Anthrozoos, 6(4), 226-247.
Ascione, F. R., Weber, C. V., Thompson, T. M., Heath, J., Maruyama, M., & Hayashi, K. (2007). Battered pets and domestic violence: Animal abuse reported by women experiencing intimate violence and by nonabused women. Violence Against Women, 13(4), 354-373.
Becker, K. D., Stuewig, J., Herrera, V. M., & McCloskey, L. A. (2004). A study of firesetting and animal cruelty in children: Family influences and adolescent outcomes. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(7), 905-912.
Buka, S. L., Stichick, T. L., Birdthistle, I., & Earls, F. J. (2001). Youth exposure to violence: prevalence, risks, and consequences. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 71(3), 298. Daly, B., & Morton, L. L. (2008). Empathic correlates of witnessing the inhumane killing of an animal: An investigation of single and multiple exposures. Society & Animals, 16(3), 243-255.
DeGue, S., & DiLillo, D. (2009). Is animal cruelty a “red flag” for family violence? Investigating co-occurring violence toward children, partners, and pets. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24(6), 1036-1056.
Dutton, D. G. (2000). Witnessing parental violence as a traumatic experience shaping the abusive personality. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 3(1), 59-67.
Farrell, A. D., Mehari, K. R., Kramer-Kuhn, A., & Goncy, E. A. (2014). The impact of victimization and witnessing violence on physical aggression among high-risk adolescents. Child Development, 85(4), 1694-1710.
Faver, C. A. (2009). School-based humane education as a strategy to prevent violence: Review and recommendations. Children and Youth Services Review, 32, 365-370.
Flynn, C. P. (1999). Animal abuse in childhood and later support for interpersonal violence in families. Society & Animals, 7(2), 161-172. Flynn, C. P. (2011). Examining the links between animal abuse and human violence. Crime, Law and Social Change, 55(5), 453-468. Gullone, E., & Robertson, N. (2008). The relationship between bullying and animal abuse behaviors in adolescents: the importance of witnessing animal abuse. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 29, 371-379.
Henry, B. C. (2004). Exposure to animal abuse and group context: Two factors affecting participation in animal abuse. Anthrozoos, 17(4), 290- 305.
Hensley, C., & Tallichet, S. E. (2005). Learning to be cruel?: Exploring the onset and frequency of animal cruelty. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 49(1), 37-47.
Holt, S., Buckley, H., & Whelan, S. (2008). The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: A review of the literature. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32(8), 797-810.
Kellert, S. R., & Felthous, A. R. (1985). Childhood cruelty toward animals among criminals and noncriminals. Human relations, 38(12), 1113-1129. Ladny, R.T., Meyer, L. Traumatized Witnesses: Review of Childhood Exposure to Animal Cruelty. Journ Child Adol Trauma
(2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653- 019-00277-x Merz-Perez, L., Heide, K. M., & Silverman, I. J. (2001). Childhood cruelty to animals and subsequent violence against humans. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 45(5), 556-573.
Murrell, A. R. Merwin, R. M., Christoff, K. A., & Henning, K. R. (2005). When parents model violence: the relationship between witnessing weapon use as a child and later use as an adult. Behavior and Social Issues, 14, 128-133.
Nicoll, K., Trifone, C., & Samuels, W. E. (2008). An in-class, humane education program can improve young students’ attitudes toward animals. Society & Animals, 16, 45-60.
Plant, M., van Schaik, P., Gullone, E., & Flynn, C. (2016). “It’s a Dog’s Life”: Culture, Empathy, Gender, and Domestic Violence Predict Animal Abuse in Adolescents—Implications for Societal Health. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 0886260516659655.
Tardif-Williams, C. Y., & Bosacki, S. L. (2015). Evaluating the impact of a humane education summer-camp program on school-aged children’s relationships with companion animals. Anthrozoos, 28(4), 587-600. doi:10.1080/08927936.2015.1070001
Thompson, K. L., & Gullone, E. (2006). An investigation into the association between the witnessing of animal abuse and adolescents’ behavior toward animals. Society & Animals, 14(3), 221-243.
Wright, J., & Hensley, C. (2003). From animal cruelty to serial murder: Applying the graduation hypothesis. International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 47(1), 71-88.

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Protect the Animal to Save the Child !

Protect the Child to Save the Animal !