Looking from four aspects whether “animal protection” can be included in charity activities

By JIN Jinping, Associate Professor, Peking University Law School

Abstract: The Biology and Science Ethics Working Committee of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development (CBCGDF) and the Institute of Animal Law (preparation) of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law held a symposium on the revision of the Charity Law of the People’s Republic of China on February 24, 2023, focusing on charitable donations and animal protection public welfare. At the symposium, the author agreed to include animal protection in the connotation and categories of Article 3 of the Charity Law; and considered this from four aspects: whether it complies with the social undertaking field stipulated by “charity” in the Charity Law; whether it is public welfare; whether it benefits the unspecified public or a part of the unspecified public; whether it adapts to or coincides with a country’s specific history, culture, national conditions and social consensus, including a specific historical development stage. Meanwhile, the author believes that we cannot broadly explain how to include the concept of animal protection into the legislative connotation and category of the Charity Law, and its specific content still needs to be reflected through specific public welfare projects and activities.

Key words: The Charity Law of the People’s Republic of China, animal protection, legislation

JIN Jinping. Looking from four aspects whether “animal protection” can be included in charity activities. BioGreen - Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development. Vol. 1, March 2023. Total Issues 37. ISSN2749-9065