The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is still struggling to recover from 15 years of conflict, which has killed millions and devastated the lives of the population through disease and poverty
Despite a peace agreement between rebel factions in January this year, the east is still rocked by violence and lawlessness. The most recent war of 1998–2003 was characterized by mass displacement, collapse of health systems and food shortages, all contributing to major elevations of mortalit
Over a million people remain displaced in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps.
The situation has deteriorated rapidly since August, with an upsurge in the conflict in recent weeks. An estimated 250,000 civilians in DRC have fled their homes and are living in desperate conditions following the latest outbreak of violence.
DEC Member Agencies below are working directly or with partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Christian Aid, CARE International UK, Concern, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision and Help the Aged.
The UN has accused both sides of war crimes during the latest violence. The head of UN peacekeeping has asked the UN Security Council for more than 3,000 extra troops to protect civilians in the eastern DR Congo.
In a continually volatile situation the DEC Member Agencies are providing additional aid including urgently needed food, water and medical supplies. Many civilians have been made homeless and some camps are being extended to take extra people.
Member Agencies are now able to carry out assessments across the region and will try to help people either return to their homes or find temporary shelter until they judge it safe to return home [REF:Getty Images]
Yesterday In the course of my duty , i found Local Authorities in full force investigating a case of cruelity against a dog. This was in the London Borough Of Harringey
When people think of cruelty, they often think of a person starving or beating an animal. In other words, they think of actions that are against the law. They may also think of things done by other nations, such as whale hunting, bear farming, bull fighting, or clubbing seal pups.
So what is cruelty? In what ways do animals suffer?
Pain. All animals with backbones (vertebrates) feel pain like we do. Hooking fish, fire branding cattle, catching animals in steel-jaw traps, cutting tails off lambs and beaks off hens, all cause pain.
Stress and Fear. Vertebrate animals feel anxiety like we do. Transport is very stressful for animals, especially live export overseas. Being pulled out of the water and left to suffocate causes great stress to fish. Dairy calves taken from their mother after 1 day and trucked to slaughter at 1 week of age suffer greatly.
Frustration. Animals need more than food and water for their well-being - they also need to be able to carry out the behaviour that is natural to their species. Otherwise they become frustrated and may develop abnormal behaviour, just like a mentally disturbed person. Signs of frustration can be seen in battery hens, pigs in tiny stalls, rabbits in laboratory cages, foxes and mink on fur farms, and some zoo and circus animals.
Within the first six months of the creation of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1824, its first two inspectors brought 63 people before the courts on animal cruelty charges. The RSPCA's purpose is to prevent cruelty and to promote kindness to animals by all lawful means. One effective way we achieve this is by taking private prosecutions against those who break the laws that are in place to protect animals. Private prosecutionsThe RSPCA has no special powers to help it do this. Everyone in England and Wales has the right to bring a private prosecution against someone who they believe has committed an offence. This right exists in common law and is preserved by section 6(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The Law Commission reporting in 1998 said, "The right of private prosecution is an important element in the rule of law". In 2007, out of 137,245 complaints of cruelty investigated, 1,860 cases were reported by our inspectors to the prosecutions department of the RSPCA. This resulted in the conviction of 1,104 defendants, and 861 orders banning people from keeping animals. In 97.2% of cases heard by the courts in 2007, the RSPCA achieved a successful result.
When people think of cruelty, they often think of a person starving or beating an animal. In other words, they think of actions that are against the law. They may also think of things done by other nations, such as whale hunting, bear farming, bull fighting, or clubbing seal pups.
So what is cruelty? In what ways do animals suffer?Pain. All animals with backbones (vertebrates) feel pain like we do. Hooking fish, fire branding cattle, catching animals in steel-jaw traps, cutting tails off lambs and beaks off hens, all cause pain.
Stress and Fear. Vertebrate animals feel anxiety like we do. Transport is very stressful for animals, especially live export overseas. Being pulled out of the water and left to suffocate causes great stress to fish. Dairy calves taken from their mother after 1 day and trucked to slaughter at 1 week of age suffer greatly.
Frustration. Animals need more than food and water for their well-being - they also need to be able to carry out the behaviour that is natural to their species. Otherwise they become frustrated and may develop abnormal behaviour, just like a mentally disturbed person. Signs of frustration can be seen in battery hens, pigs in tiny stalls, rabbits in laboratory cages, foxes and mink on fur farms, and some zoo and circus animals.
Within the first six months of the creation of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1824, its first two inspectors brought 63 people before the courts on animal cruelty charges. The RSPCA's purpose is to prevent cruelty and to promote kindness to animals by all lawful means. One effective way we achieve this is by taking private prosecutions against those who break the laws that are in place to protect animals. Private prosecutionsThe RSPCA has no special powers to help it do this. Everyone in England and Wales has the right to bring a private prosecution against someone who they believe has committed an offence. This right exists in common law and is preserved by section 6(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The Law Commission reporting in 1998 said, "The right of private prosecution is an important element in the rule of law". In 2007, out of 137,245 complaints of cruelty investigated, 1,860 cases were reported by our inspectors to the prosecutions department of the RSPCA. This resulted in the conviction of 1,104 defendants, and 861 orders banning people from keeping animals. In 97.2% of cases heard by the courts in 2007, the RSPCA achieved a successful result.
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Sign up to our campaign network and join in the latest discussion about whether the current firework laws go far enough to protect the welfare of animals. more
Sign up to our campaign network and join in the latest discussion about whether the current firework laws go far enough to protect the welfare of animals. more
18 November - DEC statement on Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is still struggling to recover from 15 years of conflict, which has killed millions and devastated the lives of the population through disease and poverty.
Despite a peace agreement between rebel factions in January this year, the east is still rocked by violence and lawlessness. The most recent war of 1998–2003 was characterized by mass displacement, collapse of health systems and food shortages, all contributing to major elevations of mortality.
Over a million people remain displaced in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps.
The situation has deteriorated rapidly since August, with an upsurge in the conflict in recent weeks. An estimated 250,000 civilians in DRC have fled their homes and are living in desperate conditions following the latest outbreak of violence.
The UN has accused both sides of war crimes during the latest violence. The head of UN peacekeeping has asked the UN Security Council for more than 3,000 extra troops to protect civilians in the eastern DR Congo.
DEC Member Agencies below are working directly or with partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Christian Aid, CARE International UK, Concern, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision and Help the Aged.
In a continually volatile situation the DEC Member Agencies are providing additional aid including urgently needed food, water and medical supplies. Many civilians have been made homeless and some camps are being extended to take extra people. Member Agencies are now able to carry out assessments across the region and will try to help people either return to their homes or find temporary shelter until they judge it safe to return home
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is still struggling to recover from 15 years of conflict, which has killed millions and devastated the lives of the population through disease and poverty.
Despite a peace agreement between rebel factions in January this year, the east is still rocked by violence and lawlessness. The most recent war of 1998–2003 was characterized by mass displacement, collapse of health systems and food shortages, all contributing to major elevations of mortality.
Over a million people remain displaced in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps.
The situation has deteriorated rapidly since August, with an upsurge in the conflict in recent weeks. An estimated 250,000 civilians in DRC have fled their homes and are living in desperate conditions following the latest outbreak of violence.
The UN has accused both sides of war crimes during the latest violence. The head of UN peacekeeping has asked the UN Security Council for more than 3,000 extra troops to protect civilians in the eastern DR Congo.
DEC Member Agencies below are working directly or with partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Christian Aid, CARE International UK, Concern, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision and Help the Aged.
In a continually volatile situation the DEC Member Agencies are providing additional aid including urgently needed food, water and medical supplies. Many civilians have been made homeless and some camps are being extended to take extra people. Member Agencies are now able to carry out assessments across the region and will try to help people either return to their homes or find temporary shelter until they judge it safe to return home
