Book Launch (Global Animal Law from the Margins, Dr Iyan Offor)

Speakers

Author: 

Dr Iyan Offor, Senior Lecturer in Law, Birmingham City University

Chair: 

Michelle Strauss, PhD Researcher, Birmingham City University

Panellists:

Dr Stacy Banwell, Associate Professor of Criminology, University of Greenwich. Dr Banwell’s present research explores multi-species violence, specifically conflict-related sexual and reproductive violence, as well as the relationship between climate change and gender-based violence. Her third book is on intersectionality, climate change, and atrocity crimes.

Ms Carley Lightfoot, Lecturer in Law, Birmingham City University. Ms Lightfoot is an academic specialising in animal law. Her PhD, being the first Modern Law Review sponsored PhD in Animal Law, considers animal experimentation in the UK, delving into both the practical implementation of the legislation and the complex ethical considerations surrounding this issue.

Ms Paula Sparks, Chairperson and Trustee, UK Centre for Animal Law. Ms Sparks’ legal charity has a mission to achieve a better legal framework for animals, to see existing animal protection laws being applied propertly, and to promote knowledge and education about the law relating to animal protection. Ms Sparks is also a visiting lecturer on animal law and policy at the University of Winchester, and had a fruitful career as a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers.

About

Dr Offor engage with expert panellists on the contents of his new book’s bold engagement with global animal law from the perspective of an intersectional ethical framework. Reconceptualising global animal law, the book argues that global animal law overrepresents views from the West as it does not sufficiently engage views from the Global South, as well as from Indigenous and other marginalised communities. Tracing this imbalance to the early development of animal law’s reaction to issues of international trade, the book elicits the anthropocentrism and colonialism that underpin this bias. In response, the book outlines a new, intersectional, second wave of animal ethics. Incorporating marginalised viewpoints, it elevates the field beyond the dominant concern with animal welfare and rights. And, drawing on aspects of decolonial thought, earth jurisprudence, intersectionality theory and posthumanism, it offers a fundamental rethinking of the very basis of global animal law.

This event will take place at Café Artum, based at Hockley Social Club.