Animal Concern attends the UK Animal Law Conference 2026

Written By Guest User

The 6th annual UK Animal Law Conference (A-Law) 2026, took place in person between the 3rd to the 4th of June at the University of Birmingham, with academics, lawyers, students, and NGOs in attendance.

As the Policy & Research Lead, I attended on behalf of Animal Concern given my background in law. Animal Concern is looking to increase its use of legal tactics in pursuing campaigns for animals, so this conference was an excellent starting point in understanding the various ways animal law influences outcomes for animals of all different species.


A-Law 2026 offered an array of speeches and workshops to do with Animal Law, and the opportunity for likeminded individuals and organisations to forge connections and work together on important animal rights and welfare issues. 


Speeches at the conference included:

  • Towards a Foundation of Agency (Melanie Challenger)

  • The Sentience Paradox in Animal Law: From Anthropocentrism to Sentientist Jurisprudence (Daijah Paris Valentine)

  • Planning for Change: How Community-Led Legal Action is Reshaping Animal Protection in the UK (Maya Pardo)

  • The Animal Welfare Strategy: Limitations, Opportunities and Collective Advocacy for Free-living Wild Animals (Kate Allberry) 

  • How to Be an Activist That Creates Real Change (Christine Dorchak) 

  • Multi-Species Survival: Rethinking Climate Action Through Animal Rights (Stacy Banwell) 

  • An Explosive Debate for Firework Regulations (Oliver James Francis-Jones)


During her Special Address, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals), Baroness Hayman of Ullock noted that we have come leaps and bounds in terms of animal rights and welfare in the UK, pinpointing the recently published Animal Welfare Strategy for England, which she was instrumental in drafting. She highlighted the ongoing importance of the UK Government collaborating with animal rights and welfare stakeholders, a sentiment which Animal Concern fully endorses.

I used the opportunity to network with the conference delegates and attendees, and look forward to collaborating with our new connections at Humane World for Animals, Four Paws, the University of Birmingham, and more, to deliver on our campaigns to improve animal rights and welfare in Scotland and across the UK.

A-Law 2026 reflected the growing political and civil society awareness of animal rights and welfare issues across the UK, particularly with a view towards deconstructing the current systemic hierarchy in which humans rule over animals and use them for our gain. 

The conference has reinforced mine and Animal Concern’s view that domestic, farmed, and wild animals all deserve protection and a sufficient legal framework in place to allow them to live free from harm caused by humans.

Following the conference, I have been writing a report, titled ‘Animals and the Law’, which will be published in due course. I look forward to incorporating the information and lessons learned at A-Law 2026 into our campaigning moving forward.

Written by Annie Barber
Photos by Vegan Photographs

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