Tuesday 29 January 2019 | 7

The creation of the European Link Coalition: a major change in direction for research into the Link


Mis à jour le 15 June 2019

It has been shown that in Western Europe and the United States, pets are generally considered family members. There are, however, countries in Europe where domestic animals are multiplying unchecked in the streets, so they have come to be regarded as pests and treated as such.

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The study “Making the Link” (21), the first ever conducted in these countries, explores the links between endemic maltreatment of animals and abuse of humans. The study of certain factors revealed that the deterioration of the status of an animal in society has led to a "transfer of aggression", with animal abuse also being correlated with violence and abuse towards people and families. A decrease in empathy has also been observed among abusers.

Empathy is the ability to penetrate the emotional world of others. It has been shown that its absence predicts an insensitive response to exposure to violence and abuse. This evokes a Cycle of Abuse learned from exposure to violence and the experience of violence, exerted and doubled against homeless animals, with degraded status and easy access, and when the problem is not resolved, it’s passed on to the next generation.

The European Link Coalition

Organizations from various European countries have now come together to form the European Link Coalition (22). A forum has been set up in which each country can share information on the latest developments in the application of the Link, and other countries can learn from these experiences. Given the rich diversity of cultures in Europe, the possibility of unification of strategic programs is increased.

The nations have come together to create the "European Link" coalition and as a new awareness is emerging among the people and authorities in Europe, animal abuse is no longer an isolated issue. It is becoming more revealing as a deeper discomfort affecting society, and the study of this association breaks the cycles of abuse; the abuse of individuals is revealed more and more with the abuse of animals, by association, it becomes a socially detestable thing.

« The story of the" European Link "Coalition is a bit like a river, it starts with a quiet brook, which gets stronger and stronger as the countries come together, until it becomes a river wider and powerful. An ocean of change is waiting ... »

And before the "European Link" coalition?

While previous initiatives in Europe, for some 20 years, revolved around the identification by veterinarians of indicators associated with human violence and abuse, success has been limited in this area. The reasons given are the confidentiality and concern of veterinarians of their commercial interests. As Nathalie Norden of VOOV in Sweden suggests:

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« Veterinarians and other veterinary clinic staff are generally very motivated to participate, but they are still reluctant to take action. They are not sure which injuries to detect, how to intervene, and what the consequences will be for those at risk, whether human or animal. This is the goal of our project: to train veterinary clinic staff and implement an action plan for the whole establishment (before, during and after a suspected case). Unfortunately, veterinarians are relatively less likely to report suspected cases of animal abuse due to financial concerns. This situation is highly dependent on the management of each animal care centre and their attitude towards the reporting of animal welfare problems or animal abuse in general. »
Nathalie Norden

Today we are seeing a change of course: now, the first responders in cases of animal abuse are carrying out research on possible associated cases of abuse on human beings.

In the United Kingdom, an agreement between the RSPCA * and the NSPCC * helped advance child protection through the reporting of potential associated cases. Earlier, 86% of these cases of abused children remained unknown to the authorities. In referring to the link between animal abuse and abuse, these cases regarding children had previously been "hidden". This process is currently being improved, and expanded allocations identify a potential "danger" associated with a case of animal abuse. It can be hoped that a large number of cases of children and vulnerable adults, hitherto ignored, can now be reported and taken care of.

*RSPCA : Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruety to Animals
*NSPCC : National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children


Sources

21 Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
22 European Link Coalition

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Comments 7

I accept that publication of my comments is subject to the code of conduct.

Karine et Philippe | Thursday 31 January 2019

Ce changement de cap est primordial, mais encore faut-il qu'il soit pris en compte, en ce qui concerne la maltraitance animale, par la police et le service vétérinaire. Nos Maires ont également le devoir d'intervenir pour les chats et chiens errants au regard de la loi et n'ont par l'euthanasie qui est un procédé trop rapide et inhumain et qui coûte plus cher que de subvenir aux besoins des Associations, par la donation de fonds et de mise à disposition de locaux avec terrain qui parfois sont abandonnés et ne servent à rien. Le manque d'empathie à l'encontre des animaux a démontré à quel point, notre société a sombré dans la barbarie, car ce que l'on inflige aux animaux on le répercute sur les humains (femmes, enfants, adolescents, personnes âgées, handicapés). C'est pourquoi, il est important de changer la mentalité de notre pays qui est archaïque, de sensibiliser dès le plus jeune âge les enfants pour le respect et la considération des animaux et d'instaurer des cours portant sur ce sujet par l'éducation nationale. Que nos élus adoptent un texte de loi qui fera figurer le crime commis sur les animaux dans le Code Pénal, car notre pays des droits de l'homme est très en retard à ce sujet, de simples contraventions ne sont pas un frein considérable aux actes de torture entraînant la mort. Une nation que respecte le droit des animaux et une nation qui respecte la société toute entière.

trochu | Wednesday 30 January 2019

Il est évident que la maltraitance animale est liée à la maltraitance humaine, que la plupart des auteurs de tortures, barbaries, maltraitances extrêmes et cruautés scandaleuses, ignobles et inacceptables s'en sont d'abord pris à des êtres faibles, fragiles et vulnérables que sont les animaux avant de s'en prendre aux humains. De même, les personnes à fort potentiel d'empathie sont également très souvent des personnes ayant souffert dans leurs vies pour de nombreuses et diverses raisons tout comme les personnes très humaines le sont aussi parce qu'elles vécues des choses difficiles et douloureuses et sont donc plus réceptives à la souffrance à la douleur d'autrui que ce soit animales ou humaines, et ne sont en rien égoïstes bien au contraire et j'ajouterais qu'il en est de même pour les personnes sensibles et hypersensibles qui déjà en règle générale ont une intelligence supérieure. Ce lien est donc primordial et capital afin que les animaux soient enfin mieux considérés et respectés et reconnus en tant QU ETRES VIVANTS à part entière, et que les enfants soient eux aussi davantage protégés et défendus tout comme les animaux car des êtres vulnérables incapables de se défendre face à la cruauté, abus en tous genres et maltraitances extrêmes. Je me réjouis bien évidemment de ces prises de conscience si importantes pour une avancée certaine et profonde de tout un système qui jusqu'à lors n'intéressait que très peu de personnes et de gouvernements préférant jouer l'indifférence.