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The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International have taken a petition with 8.3 million signatures against cosmetic animal testing to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City today.
The organizations are calling on the UN to ‘create a global framework to end animal testing while advancing its sustainable development agenda’.
The petition signatures – collected from supporters globally – in just 15 months, call on the countries of the UN to formalize an international framework to end cosmetic animal testing, everywhere and forever. It is still legal to test cosmetics on animals in 80 percent of countries, with an estimated 500,000 animals used for this purpose each year.
Outdated, cruel, unnecessary
“In just 15 months more than 8 million people signed their names in recognition that cosmetic animal testing is outdated, cruel and unnecessary,” said David Boynton, CEO of The Body Shop, in a statement sent to Plant Based News.
“We are determined to finish what Dame Anita Roddick, our founder, started back in 1989, and today we are hosting a special event at the United Nations to call for collaboration among the cosmetic industry, civil society and governments finally to end cosmetic animal testing everywhere.”
“Together with the activist spirit of our store teams and customers around the world, we have reached more consumers with this campaign than we ever have before,” Jessie Macneil-Brown, Global Head of Activism at The Body Shop, added.
“The support of so many people around the world demonstrates that corporate activism can make a positive impact on a global scale.”
‘Misinformed’
“People are misinformed about cosmetic animal testing,” said Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International.
“The Forever Against Animal Testing petition demonstrates that across the globe, people want this cruel practice to end.
“A global framework is the only way to truly eliminate animal suffering.”
Consumers can get involved with the campaign by joining the online rally here, and can show their support by using the campaign hashtag, #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting, on social media to raise awareness of the issue.
