Kristina Mering, director of the organization Invisible Animals, discusses the long-standing effort to ban the use of caged hens in Estonia, which has seen tens of thousands of signatures collected yet remains pending in the government.
Kristina Mering, the leader of the animal rights organization Invisible Animals, recently highlighted the prolonged struggle to prohibit the use of caged hens in Estonia. Despite the collection of nearly 35,000 signatures in support of a petition to enact this ban, the proposed legislation has remained stagnant under the scrutiny of three different agriculture ministers over the years. Mering expressed her determination and leans on the strong public support represented by the large number of signatures collected, marking it as a significant achievement in their advocacy efforts.
In her interview, Mering underscored the contrast in public awareness when comparing caged hens to more commonly considered companion animals such as cats and dogs. She argued that although the plight of hens may seem more distanced from daily human interaction, Estonians are increasingly acknowledging their welfare. The visibility and support for such causes illustrate a changing landscape in animal rights awareness in Estonia, resulting in a comprehensive approach to animal welfare legislation.
Despite the incremental progress, Mering acknowledged that substantial work remains ahead in ensuring the proposed ban is enacted. The petition not only surpassed the previous record for signed petitions but is also referenced in the current coalition agreement, indicating governmental recognition of the issue. The ongoing advocacy aims to maintain momentum and continue fostering public discourse around the ethical treatment of all animals, particularly those less heard.
