Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of animal rights. First, it provides a description of the main legal approaches to animal law around the world and aims to verify whether animal rights can already be found and recognized under current legislations, with special reference to EU legislation. Secondly, the paper analyses the main theoretical hurdles related to the recognition of animal rights and the legal bases for their recognition. According to this paper, the recognition of legal rights for animals is mainly a practical question, as it focuses on establishing which interests in the conflict between animals and humans should prevail. A relevant criterion in resolving the conflict can be found in the right to dignity, which can refer either to human dignity or to animal dignity, considered as an autonomous right.