Animal Law Workshop
NEWS
In March 2026, we are launching GABBY Talks — a new discussion series dedicated to current issues in animal law and ethics. This initiative creates a space for serious and in-depth dialogue on the complex questions that shape human–animal relations — at the intersection of law and ethics, theory and practice.GABBY is an acronym for the project’s guiding principle: Global Animal Being Beyond Utility — an affirmation of the animal as a being in its own right, whose value cannot be reduced to human use.At the same time, GABBY also refers to the name of a gifted and intelligent dog, Gabby, whose life was tragically cut short as a result of human negligence. Her memory serves as a reminder of both professional and personal responsibility, of a culture of mindful and accountable interaction with animals, and of the fact that ethics is not merely an academic theory, but a daily practice.On November 29, 2025 we hosted
the 4th international conference “Animal law: from ethics to law”.
Feel free to view the 2025 Conference Program.
ABOUT USThe Animal Law Workshop (ALW) was launched in 2019 as an educational, research, and analytical initiative that brings together students, professionals, and experts in law and related fields who share a commitment to improving the welfare of animals — particularly through legal and ethical perspectives. This is its temporary website, and we aim to launch a more comprehensive one by the end of 2027. The new website will feature a variety of educational materials, an analytical blog, a news section, etc.
✧ OUR HISTORY ✧
The ALW began as a university lecture course, combining group and individual student projects and an annual Animal Law yearbook. Since March 2022, the ALW has grown into an independent volunteer-based initiative.
✧ OUR GOAL ✧
Our main goal is to advance knowledge in the field of animal law and ethics and to keep the global conversation alive — inter alia, by sharing expertise, tracking and analyzing new research, legal developments, and policy trends, disseminating best practices, and building connections among experts, students, and advocates across countries and disciplines.
✧ OUR PRINCIPLES ✧
The ALW is an independent, fully volunteer-based educational, research, and analytical initiative. We bring together students and experts in law, philosophy, ethics, and related fields who are committed to advancing the welfare of animals from legal and ethical perspectives.
We strive to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible, developing our projects, events, and other activities on the basis of shared values, professional commitment, and genuine engagement, rather than formal structures or external funding. Our collaborations are built on mutual trust, integrity, and a shared dedication to advancing legal and ethical aspects of animal welfare globally.
We remain politically neutral and strive to keep our space free from politically driven disputes where it is deemed reasonable and aligned with the objectives.
✧ OUR CONFERENCE ✧
Since 2022, we have been hosting annual online international conferences on animal law and ethics, “Animal Law: From Ethics to Law,” bringing together speakers and participants from across the world — from Canada, the USA, and Argentina to Europe including EU countries and those that were once part of the former USSR), South Africa, India, and beyond. Each year, the number of participants continues to grow by ~70-100%, along with the diversity of voices represented. Since 2024, the conference has been fully bilingual, with all sessions interpreted simultaneously. We are currently migrating our old conference website to a new platform, with the transfer expected to be completed by July 2026. In the meantime, you may also find it useful to take a look at the current call for the 2025 conference. Recordings of the conferences are available on our YouTube channel prior to the next conference.
✧ OUR JOURNAL ✧
The bilingual (English–Russian) Animal Law yearbook continues to be published, with every contribution presented in both languages — paper abstracts up to 2023 and full paper translations since 2024. The 2024 issue will be published by November 20, 2025.
✧ OUR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES ✧
Our educational course has developed into 2 free online 12-week courses on animal ethics and animal law, and we are in the process of developing a broader range of open-access educational materials — including short video series and podcasts, a variety of full-length webinar series, a collection of presentations, textbooks, etc. on our new website.
✧ OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ✧
The ALW is active on major social media platforms popular with our audience — Facebook, LinkedIn, Telegram, VKontakte, and YouTube — with the first two currently being prepared for regular updates, and the latter three already updated on a regular basis. Please find links to these platforms at the bottom of this page.
✧ OUR TEAM ✧
All of this is made possible thanks to the dedication and generosity of our volunteers — smultaneous interpreters, journal editors, SMM managers, speakers, and coordinators — who keep the initiative alive and growing across languages and borders.
OUR TEAM
PROJECT COORDINATOR
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
PROJECT FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
EVENTS
CONFERENCES
On November 29, 2025 we hosted
the 4th international conference “Animal law: from ethics to law”.
Feel free to view the 2025 Conference Program.On November 30, 2024 we hosted
the 3rd international conference “Animal law: from ethics to law”.
Feel free to view the 2024 Conference Program.On November 25, 2023 we hosted
the 2nd international conference “Animal law: from ethics to law”.
Feel free to view the 2023 Conference Program.On December 10, 2022 we hosted
the 1st international conference “Animal law: from ethics to law”.
Feel free to view the 2022 Conference Program.Our conferences have proven to be both a comfortable environment and an effective forum for discussing the most pressing issues in animal ethics and animal law with leading experts. The speakers and discussants represent the academic community, legal practitioners, NGOs, veterinary organizations, and media.The conference is held annually. It typically features 3–5 sessions and 1–2 round tables with dedicated time for Q&A with presenters. Simultaneous interpretation into English, Russian, and Spanish is usually available for all sessions.Materials for conferences held through 2023, including video recordings, presentations, and resolutions, are available on the archived Conference website. Materials for conferences from 2024 onward will be available soon in the respective section of the new ALW website.See you again at the next year's International Conference “Animal law: from ethics to law” in late November! Don't forget to mark it on your calendar.Invitations and information letters for the annual conference are distributed from August to October of the same year.
📩 Questions, comments, and suggestions
can be sent to the Conference Organizing Committee.
WEBINARS
CONTACTGENERAL INQUIRIES
[email protected]PROJECT COORDINATOR
Alexandra V. Astakhova
[email protected]PROJECT FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Daria V. Chernyaeva
[email protected]