Delhi, 17 February 2010 - Indian national Shashi Tharoor pledged his support for the development of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) at the United Nations (UN). By doing so, Mr Tharoor became the two millionth signatory to support the Animals Matter Campaign.

Best known for serving as the Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information during the term of Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the United Nations (UN), Shashi Tharoor is also a well known and respected politician, humanitarian and author. He is currently Minister of State for External Affairs in India.

Dr Tharoor explained to representatives from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) he will support the initiative by ‘promoting the Indian cultural ethos of animal welfare, upheld by Mahatma Ghandi and so many great Indians’. Dr Tharoor then shared his support for the recognition of animal welfare at the UN with his 655,312 supporters on his own twitter page.

Growing momentum

On that very same day, the Indian Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, announced his support the UDAW initiative at the United Nations. Previously, the Animal Welfare Board of India gave its support for the development of a UDAW.

Dr Tharoor agreed to become the 2 millionth signatory of the Animals Matter to Me campaign, hereby joining two million people from every country in the world who have stated their belief that animals deserve to be treated humanely and their needs respected.

You too can join the campaign for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare.