Spain takes groundbreaking step to grant rights to great apes

Spain plans to grant great apes rights similar to human rights. This issue has been addressed by the Spanish parliament, which also intends to conduct public consultations. The introduction of such regulations could trigger a revolution on a global scale.

According to bioethicist Dr. Joseph Fletcher, great apes have 15 traits that define human personality and differentiate us from other animals. These traits include, among others, intelligence, cognitive abilities, communication skills, and self-control. Additionally, these apes have a sense of time, both past and future, and they care about others.

They also exhibit self-awareness, curiosity about the world, and a balance between reason and emotion. The Spanish government intends to use these 1975 findings as a foundation for new legal regulations.

Introducing such legislation could change the perception of great apes, granting them a status that better reflects their unique abilities and needs.

"Apes, such as chimpanzees and humans, have about 98 percent identical genome," said Prof. Ewa Bartnik, a Polish Academy of Sciences geneticist.

Spain's Minister of Social Affairs, Jose Ramon Becerra, emphasizes that the initiative to grant rights to great apes is the first step towards voting on the appropriate bill. Introducing such a law would have significant consequences, including a complete ban on conducting experiments and laboratory research on apes that could harm them.

Such regulations would apply to about 140 apes in zoos in Spain, representing significant progress in protecting these animals and recognizing their rights. This way, Spain could become a pioneer in animal rights, introducing laws that would protect great apes from abuse and suffering.

In June 2008, the Spanish parliament approved an initiative to grant great apes basic rights, such as the right to life, personal freedom, and protection from torture. Although, at that stage, it ended with declarations that did not translate into concrete actions, the topic has now resurfaced.

As part of the new bill, plans are being made to ban the use of apes in performances and other activities that could violate their dignity. Extensive consultations with experts in bioethics and lawyers will precede the work on the bill. In the coming weeks, it will become clear whether Spain will become the first country in the world to grant great apes rights similar to human rights.