On October 1, the photographic exhibition Silent Suffering will be inaugurated in Brussels, an event that promises to impact European Parliament representatives and give a voice to animal rights organizations in their demands. The exhibition, organized by Eurogroup for Animals and Four Paws, presents the harsh reality of animals suffering in industrial farms, research laboratories, the pet trade, and other contexts, exposing a crisis that demands urgent solutions.
Among the striking images to be presented is a photograph by Aitor Garmendia, an award-winning photographer and activist, documenting the conditions in rabbit farms in Spain. This image is the result of an exhaustive investigation carried out by the AnimaNaturalis team and has been chosen as a symbol of the urgent need to reform European animal welfare legislation.
Cristina Ibáñez, AnimaNaturalis' representative at this event, noted that "the exhibition is a wake-up call for European leaders to prioritize the lives and welfare of animals, who have been invisible to current laws for far too long." The exhibited images reveal the deplorable conditions that animals are subjected to in various industries and human activities, a reality that can no longer be ignored.
The Urgency of Legal Reform
Throughout Europe, the laws that should protect animals have become outdated. Current regulations are not up to the ethical and scientific challenges of today. According to a recent report by Eurogroup for Animals, more than 90% of European citizens believe that legislation must be updated to ensure that all animals, from farmed to wild and companion animals, receive the care and respect they deserve.
“This exhibition is a visual reminder of the suffering that animals in Europe continue to face, often behind closed doors, silently. These sentient beings don’t have a voice in politics, but citizens do, and they have been vocal in their calls for better animal welfare legislation, one that adequately protects animals across their lifetime. We ask the European Commission to not look away, and to prioritise this issue in this term by revising the entire animal welfare legislation - there can be no more delays”, commented Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals.
This exhibition comes at a critical time, as the European Commission is about to enter a new term. Animal protection organizations, including Eurogroup for Animals, are pushing for animal welfare reforms to be prioritized in the legislative agenda. The selected images, ranging from animals confined in cages to brutal transport methods, call for an immediate and decisive response from policymakers.
"These images not only depict suffering but also remind us of our responsibility as a society to end these inhumane practices," emphasizes Ibáñez. "The meat industry, scientific laboratories, and fur farms, among others, must be regulated with a new approach that prioritizes animal welfare."
The Impact of AnimaNaturalis' Investigation
Garmendia's photograph in the exhibition is part of an extensive documentation project by AnimaNaturalis on Spanish industrial farms, where the deplorable conditions of rabbits destined for the food industry have been revealed. The images show animals overcrowded, injured, and living in unsanitary conditions that violate the most basic principles of animal welfare.
Investigations like these are crucial for pushing for change. By presenting visual evidence of animal suffering, the exhibition reinforces the work of organizations like AnimaNaturalis, which have brought these issues to light through undercover investigations and awareness campaigns.
The Silent Suffering exhibition seeks not only to provoke emotion but also to drive tangible change. The presence of representatives from animal protection organizations, such as AnimaNaturalis, in the European Parliament is crucial to pushing for legislative reforms that protect animals. As Ibáñez stated, "we cannot allow animal suffering to remain an invisible reality in Europe. We must act now."
At AnimaNaturalis, the goal is clear: to end suffering in industrial farms. Through campaigns like FarmedAnimals.org, citizens are invited to get involved and contribute to this change, whether through donations, volunteering, or sharing vital information on their networks. The exhibition in Brussels is just one more step toward a future where animal rights are a priority in Europe.
