Including working animals in sustainable development agenda: Brooke at United Nations event

Brooke raised the visibility of working animals in the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda, in New York last week.  

The charity lobbied for the inclusion of working animals in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the High Level Political Forum (HLPF), on 8-17 July 2024.  

Marking the HLPF’s 12th session, this year’s theme was “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions”. 

Brooke met with UN member states to lobby for the inclusion of animal health and welfare in conversations around disaster management plans, climate resilience and antimicrobial resistance.  

An estimated 100 million working horses, donkeys and mules contribute to the livelihoods of many poor communities around the world and are vital in achieving the SDGs, including Goal 1: No Hunger, Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, and Goal 13: Climate Action. 

During the two weeks, Brooke hosted an exhibition on the role of working animals in achieving the SDGs by 2030 with the Animal Issues Thematic Cluster (AITC), an international animal welfare group which Brooke co-chairs.

Thanks to Brooke East Africa, references to working animals, animal health and animal welfare are now included in Kenya’s national review of the SDGs, presented in a plenary session at the HLPF.

On 11 July, Brooke hosted an official HLPF side event exploring the vital role working horses, donkeys and mules play in climate resilience and adaptation, from supporting farming to evacuating casualties and rebuilding infrastructure.  

Speakers included representatives from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Ambassador Cheikh Niang, representative of the Republic of Senegal to the UN.

The event was in partnership with the International Coalition for Working Equids (ICWE) and Permanent Mission of Senegal to the UN.  

Brooke also hosted a virtual side event on 11 July with ICWE on “Building resilience of small-scale farmers in low and middle-income countries”, with World Farmers' Organisation. 

Speakers included representatives from the United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), World Farmers' Organisation, Pakistan’s government and Ambassador Rodríguez Mancia, Permanent Representative of Guatemala to the UN.  

Representatives attending on behalf of Brooke included Anna Marry and Samuel Theuri, Head of Advocacy and External Affairs for Brooke East Africa.

This year’s HLPF focused on advancing the UN’s mission to achieve the SDGs by 2030. 

In 2017, Brooke was granted special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN, involving the charity in the UN agenda and other international agencies.