Interview with Animals Don’t Speak Human

Please welcome Fiolita Berandhini, the Founder and Director of Animals Don’t Speak Human.

Animals Don’t Speak Human (ADSH) is an organization committed to reducing animal suffering through providing education about animal law, ethics, and animal welfare and through advocacy efforts on litigation and non-litigation. It is the first and only organization from Indonesia that joined the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia, an international campaign initiated by the Institute of Animal Law of Asia. Through this interview, we would like to introduce our member to the public and our audience. We are excited to learn more about the Animals Don’t Speak Human!

Part I: Introduction

IALA: Fiolita, could you please tell us more about your organization? Your organization’s mission is to secure animal welfare and basic rights through litigation, legislation, and education, what was the major drive for you to found this organization? What specifically does your work include?

Fiolita: I founded Animals Don't Speak Human in 2019 because there are very few organizations that have legal staff in the form of paralegals or attorneys working to help them deal with legal issues. First of all, with my expertise and the expertise of my colleague who is a lawyer and passionate about helping animals, we started our work in the organization by offering free legal consultations to local organizations looking for help to resolve some animal law-related issues. Secondly, we also provide lecture sessions to universities interested in discussing animal law in student/faculty communities at several universities and have collaborated with several student organizations from any educational background to make animal protection issues inclusive. Apart from that, we also provide animal law content to increase public awareness, so they are more familiar with animal laws in Indonesia or certain regions. Finally, to enhance our knowledge and to influence the young generation, we annually open volunteering opportunities to those who want to be involved in the animal protection movement by joining the provided class and producing a paper on animal protection intersection to any knowledge (public health, politics, economy, philosophy, etc).

We hope that in the next few years more law students will be willing to get involved in helping animals with their expertise, many lawyers will be involved in helping with animal issues, and many animal protection NGOs will hire workers who have legal expertise so that the holistic efforts made to help animals have more impact, including on the legal/legislative side. Apart from that, the most important thing is to prevent criminalization efforts carried out by irresponsible parties regarding the work of activists in helping animals.

IALA: What animal law issues does your organization address and what regions does it cover? What are the challenges and difficulties you have ever faced during your animal advocacy work? 

Fiolita: Mostly we are addressing national animal law and regional animal law issues that exist in Bali, where we are based. The issues we focus on are the governance of farmed animals, wild animals, and companion animals.

There are many challenges we face during advocacy work, especially when we talk about regulation or legal work because there are limited animal protection organizations that have staff who work in the legal division.

In addition, since I do a lot of stuff to run the organization with limited funding, it also makes me a bit overwhelmed to execute the work with no help from someone on my team who has a law background. However, I am grateful to my small team that made all of the plans go well, and hope everything we have done so far could make a big impact on the animals.

IALA: Among many missions and objectives of your organization, what, as a founder and director, have you found the most challenging in implementing your ideas?

Fiolita: The biggest challenge is that we don't have many people with whom to discuss issues, especially when it comes to discussing tactics for putting legal issue ideas into practice. The legal sector is underfunded and there are not many lawyers in Indonesia interested in handling animal-related cases. In addition, this is one of the reasons we require extreme caution while acting to help animals due to the numerous attempts to jail proponents of free speech.

IALA: Do you have anything to share about the plans of Animals Don’t Speak Human that it intends to accomplish in 2024?

Fiolita: On March 26, 2024, we held a dissemination seminar on our scoping report concerning the farmed animal welfare standards implementation in Bali, and the implications for public health and the environment. The report also covered the legal compliance obliged by the farmers to ensure that no waste disposal contaminates the environment and the protection of animals themselves. This seminar was held at Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia. It was attended by more than 200 participants which comprised 47 government departments on multi-sector, students, academics from different universities, non-profit organizations (human rights, environmental, animal protection), and an association of animal farmers.

It was the first significant assembly we have done by inviting government officials from various sectors to discuss the welfare of animals raised on farms and its impact on the environment and public health. We are happy with the reaction from the participants, particularly the government staff who attended, who expressed a desire to work together to find solutions to the problems we found during the June–September 2023 research.

We intend to expand our work and accomplish some of the objectives we have set for the upcoming year:

• To enforce the government to improve the farmed animal standards with the legal binding so there is no more excuse for animal agriculture to not follow the farming guidance.

• The amendment of the conservation bill is hopefully to be passed this year by the parliament. Discussion of this bill has begun for 8 years with various amendments to the articles that favor all wild animals, especially those that are not protected.

• The introduction of animal law in all law faculties in Indonesia.

Part II: Indonesian Animal Law Issues

IALA: What do you think are the most important and pressing animal law issues that exist in Indonesia? In many countries around the world, regulations concerning animals may exist but lack enforcement. What is the situation in Indonesia, and how do you think animal protection can be improved?

Fiolita: Similar to conditions in many other countries, law enforcement in Indonesia is weak. Indonesia has many laws that can be used to reduce animal suffering, however, many law enforcers and the government do not yet understand what activities are categorized as cruelty to animals because they are not specifically stated in statutory regulations.

In terms of legislation, the most urgent thing to improve is, in my opinion, for farmed animals and animals who are not categorized as protected. This is because the existing farming guidelines are not yet fair to animals. Apart from that, the guidelines also have no legally binding effect so farm agricultures at all scales are not obliged to follow the existing guidelines. In addition, the number of government officials tasked with carrying out supervision is also limited, so it doesn't matter how many laws are made to reduce animal suffering, as long as there are not enough officers to supervise, and the knowledge of law enforcement officers is not improved by the latest advances in science and law. If in other countries there are no strict controls to monitor animal cruelty, then animals will always suffer.

IALA: What is the attitude of the government and the public towards the legal protection of animals, animal law movements, animal welfare, and animal rights activism in Indonesia?

Fiolita: The government does not yet prioritize the legal protection of animals, this can be seen from numerous court decisions that only give minimum criminal sentences even though the perpetrators' acts of violence against animals are considered serious.

In addition, the financial and society class situation in Indonesia also has a big influence on changes in legal protection and animal welfare. The high level of poverty and misinformation about fulfilling animal welfare/protection make animal protection slow to occur in Indonesia.

Moreover, the lack of academics and legal scholars involved in animal advocacy is another issue. The government's anti-science behavior makes the situation even worse because it is difficult to criticize and it is easy to criminalize activists under articles of defamation, hence a very good strategy is needed to avoid criminalization by an anti-criticism government and to make the movement sustainable.

Part III: International Cooperation

IALA: What animal law issues do you think Indonesia and other Asian countries might have in common? How can the Western countries where animal law is more progressive help Asian countries in this matter?

Fiolita: In my opinion, common animal law concerns in Indonesia and other Asian nations include:

• Animal Cruelty

  • The mistreatment of animals on farms, illicit trade, and poaching are all major causes of animal cruelty.

• Lack of Enforcement

  • Although laws may be in place, they are frequently not enforced, which results in the continuous abuse of animals.

• Companion Animal Welfare

  • Concerns about the treatment of companion animals exist, and some areas do not have laws specifically addressing pet ownership.

• Farmed Animal Welfare

  • Animal welfare is a concern in livestock farming, where productivity and financial gains frequently take precedence over animal welfare.

However, Western countries with progressive animal laws can support Asian countries by:

• Exchanging knowledge

  • Educating lawyers about animal welfare laws by comparing states with strict enforcement of animal protection.

• Endorsing Law

  • Assisting in the creation and application of strong legislation on animal welfare.

• Building capacity

  • Involves providing law enforcement and animal welfare professionals with training.

• Increasing Awareness

  • Organizing public awareness efforts to change cultural norms and beliefs about the treatment of animals.

Asia's animal welfare standards can be raised with cooperation and support from more progressive countries, guaranteeing that animals are treated with respect and humanity.

IALA: What goals would you like to achieve through the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia? In which ways do you think Animals Don’t Speak Human could help the animal advocacy field within the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia?

Fiolita: As one of our goals is to introduce animal law to law faculties in universities across Indonesia, we would like to improve the status of animals through educational exchanges. This can be done by sharing resources and educational materials through webinars, online discussions, etc. That way, many legal scholars can understand the advancement of animal law in other countries, increase their awareness of the recognition of animals as living beings in the legal system, and enhance their critical thinking on how to improve animal welfare through the legal systems. This is an important effort in creating new law practitioners who are more compassionate towards animals.

IALA: Are you seeking any global participation in developing animal law through the Animals Don’t Speak Human? Do you intend to collaborate with other countries/regions to improve the protection of animals in Indonesia?

Fiolita: Yes, we are keen to collaborate with other countries/regions to improve the protection of animals in Indonesia. We believe that collaborating with other countries and regions can offer several benefits for improving animal protection in Indonesia:

• Sharing Best Practices

  • Countries with advanced animal welfare laws can share their experiences, helping Indonesia to develop and refine its regulations.

• Harmonizing Standards

  • International collaboration can lead to the harmonization of animal welfare standards, ensuring consistency and improving the quality of animal care and use practices globally.

• Research and Development

  • Joint research initiatives can enhance understanding of animal welfare issues and lead to the development of innovative solutions.

• Increased Resources

  • Collaboration often brings additional resources, such as funding, expertise, and technology, which can be vital for implementing effective animal protection measures.

• Global Advocacy

  • A united international front can be more influential in advocating for animal rights, raising global awareness, and prompting action.

• Cultural Exchange

  • Engaging with different cultures can provide new perspectives on animal welfare and encourage the adoption of more compassionate practices.

• Legal Support

  • International legal expertise can assist in drafting robust animal protection laws and improving the enforcement of existing regulations.

IALA: Do you have any experience or suggestions to share with our members on how to advocate for animals more effectively?

Fiolita: Advocating for animals from a legal perspective involves a multifaceted approach that includes legislative action, public education, and strategic litigation. Here are some strategies to consider:

• Legislative Advocacy

  • Work on drafting and lobbying for laws that protect animals. This can involve everything from local ordinances to national legislation.

• Legal Representation

  • Provide legal representation for animal welfare cases, and support the enforcement of existing animal protection laws.

• Public Policy

  • Engage with policymakers and stakeholders to influence public policy decisions that affect animals.

• Education and Training

  • Educate law enforcement, attorneys, and the judiciary about animal law to improve the handling of animal welfare cases.

• Strategic Litigation

  • Use the courts to set precedents that advance animal rights and challenge laws and practices that are harmful to animals.

• Coalition Building

  • Form coalitions with other advocacy groups to strengthen the push for legal reforms.

• Research and Scholarship

  • Contribute to legal scholarship on animal law to build a foundation for arguments in policy and litigation.

• Community Engagement

  • Raise awareness in the community about animal law issues and mobilize public support for animal-friendly legal initiatives.

I think by combining these strategies, advocates can create a comprehensive approach to effecting legal change and improving the welfare of animals.

IALA: What else would you like to tell the audience of the Institute of Animal Law of Asia (IALA)?

Fiolita: I call on all individuals to persist in their efforts to support non-human animals, to keep learning, working together, and spreading knowledge about emerging problems and concerns. To further advance the complete liberation of all groups vulnerable to analogous discursive power structures. I further urge everyone to approach their work from a cross-cutting viewpoint and work on a holistic approach.

I hope that an increasing number of Indonesian youngsters, especially law students, will be eager to become more involved in animal defense. We are ready to help attorneys and law students have a better understanding of the value of protecting animals from a legal perspective and how to elevate the status of animals to be recognized as living beings.

IALA: Thank you very much for taking the time for this interview. We enjoyed talking with you and discussing animal law issues that we can solve together at the Institute of Animal Law of Asia (IALA) and Animals Don't Speak Human within the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia.