WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International today congratulated the Council of Europe for passing a historic resolution calling on its 46-member states to promote initiatives aimed at prohibiting trade in all seal-derived products, following the United States and Mexico precedents. The resolution also asks Canada to prohibit cruel seal hunting methods including the use of hakapiks and guns.
"This historic resolution is another clear indication that global seal products markets are closing," said Rebecca Aldworth, director of Canadian wildlife issues for The HSUS. "Many people believe Canada's commercial seal hunt will end soon, and the Canadian government must act now to ensure fisherman are adequately compensated through a fair sealing license retirement program."
The Council of Europe, Europe's oldest political organization, is an influential body with 46 member states, including Russia, Turkey, western European nations and 21 central and eastern European countries. Its political achievements include 200 legally binding European treaties and conventions. Canada and the United States hold observer status at the Council of Europe.
Governments around the world continue to show their opposition to Canada's commercial seal hunt.. In today's resolution, members of the Council of Europe wrote, "The Assembly welcomes the declaration of 15 September 2006 by the European Parliament on banning seal products in the European Union requesting 'the Commission to immediately draft a regulation to ban the import, export and sale of all harp and hooded seal products'."
Notably, no country has ever joined the European Union without first belonging to the Council of Europe.
For more information on The HSUS' campaign to end the Canadian seal hunt, visit www.protectseals.org.
Click to view the resolution and amendments: http://assembly.coe.int/Sessions/2006/Agenda/EAgenda061117.pdf.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with nearly 10 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
