Fundación Derecho y Defensa Animal
Fundación Derecho y Defensa Animal received a CAF grant to analyze whether and how the protection of non-human animals was being conceptualized within the discussion regarding the revision to Chile’s constitution in 2021. (You can read more here.) The aim was to offer useful input for animal rights organizations that were pursuing similar initiatives in their own countries.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the discussion and drafting of the new constitution was delayed, and then, following its introduction, in September 2022, that constitution was rejected by 62 percent of the population. In May 2023, after further elections, a new set of advisers were chosen to draft a new constitution, which, given the political leanings of this new slate of electees, is likely to be much less progressive than the rejected constitution.
On May 25, 2023, Fundación Derecho y Defensa Animal joined with many other animal advocacy organizations in an open letter calling for significant protections for animals in the Chilean constitution, focusing on Chapter XIII, Article 16, which states: “It is the duty of the State to give special protection to animals.”
Fundación Derecho y Defensa Animal has published A Compilation of International Legislation, which gathers existing animal rights legislation across the world and provides a compact and legible resource for existing animal rights initiatives.
In 2025, Fundación Derecho y Defensa Animal doubled its full-time team and integrated political advocacy, strategic litigation, academic research, and public action to drive structural change for animal protection in Chile. Their standout achievements include presenting landmark animal welfare bills, securing 173 parliamentary commitments (with 23 elected), winning 14 cage-free corporate pledges, launching the Patitapp activism platform, and providing free legal guidance to over 500 people. They also gained international recognition, participated in over 20 global conferences, and grew their media presence with more than 50 press appearances and 15,000 new social media followers. You can read their 2025 report in full here.
