Educating, mentoring & uniting animal advocates worldwide to turn research & advocacy into legal rights for animals

About ICARE

At the International Centre for Animal Rights and Ethics (ICARE), we envision a world where all sentient beings are recognised as individuals with inherent rights and dignity.

To achieve this vision, we’re making animal rights law available for everyone, everywhere, blending animal rights theory with practical application, empowering others with the knowledge and tools to make legal rights for animals a reality globally.

Our research and advocacy activities are designed to have a wide-reaching impact, providing resources to influence legislation, lobbying efforts, and ethical standards worldwide.

We provide legal support for NGOs and animal advocates at the local level to strengthen the animal rights movement and maximise the chances of successful legal reform for animals. Our focus on long-term training and network building ensures sustained advocacy and progress for animal rights worldwide.

Join us in our mission to transform the legal landscape for animals and achieve our vision of a world where animals are treated with justice and compassion!

Our Mission

Our mission is to end animal exploitation and the suffering inflicted on sentient beings by human actions, by securing the universal recognition and enforcement of animals’ fundamental rights.

Our Vision

Our vision is a world where all sentient beings possess legal rights, are treated with dignity, and are no longer exploited for human purposes or ‘left behind’.

We believe in interspecies justice and advocate for non-anthropocentric legal systems that uphold the dignity and rights of all sentient beings.

This entails recognising non-human animals as individuals with fundamental interests, needs, agency, personalities, cultures, relationships, and preferences and as subjects of lives that can fare well or poorly for themselves.

Meet the Team

  • Founder & Executive Director
    Director of Legal Research & Advocacy

    Marine is a dedicated advocate for human and animal rights, committed to driving meaningful and lasting policy change. As a PhD candidate in Global Animal Law and Researcher at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, she pioneers the concept of 'Animal Labour Law', aiming to grant labour rights to non-human animal workers. Marine is the Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the open-access Journal of Animal Rights Law and the Founder and Executive Director of the International Centre for Animal Rights and Ethics (ICARE). She has also recently joined the Board of the Culture and Animals Foundation (CAF).

    With multiple master's degrees in International Law and high honours in Animal Law and Society, Marine combines academic excellence with practical expertise. She regularly lectures on Animal Law, organises speed moot courts in human rights law and animal rights law, and has coordinated numerous international and national academic events. Fluent in French, English, and Spanish, she engages diverse audiences worldwide.

    Known for her professionalism and collaborative spirit, Marine works closely with researchers and NGOs, always ready to contribute her expertise. Her publications and active participation in academic forums demonstrate her reliability and commitment to the cause.

    Through her ongoing efforts and collaborative approach, Marine strives to make a meaningful impact in the field of animal rights, contributing to positive change and advancing the recognition of fundamental legal rights for animals.

  • Legal Expert and Social Media Content Creator

    Silvina Pezzetta is an Argentinean CONICET researcher in Animal Law and Ethics. She has been working on animal rights legal theory and animal ethics for the last ten years while also participating as Amicus curiae in relevant national and international court cases.

    She has taught animal ethics at the Buenos Aires University Law School (Argentina). She won the Culture & Animals Foundation Award in 2020 and the Tiny Beam Foundation Fellowship in 2021. She was a visiting scholar at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Law and International Public Law (Heidelberg, Germany) in 2019 and 2023. She was a Visiting Fellow at the ALPP Harvard Law School during the academic year 2023-2024.

  • Online Events Coordinator

    Shreya is a dedicated animal welfare advocate whose vegan journey has fuelled her commitment to creating a world where animals are respected, not consumed.

    Drawing on her background in marketing and events management, she channels her professional skills to strengthen the movement.

    She believes effective outreach and community-building are powerful catalysts for transforming compassion into lasting impact.

  • Grant Writer

    With a sharp pen and a heart for justice, Yara Zalzal brings over eight years of expertise in grant writing, editing, translation, and donor engagement. She has worked with non-profits, academic institutions, businesses, and grassroots initiatives to craft compelling proposals and content that support meaningful, impact-driven work.

    Based in Lebanon, Yara’s passion for animal rights is rooted in a region where legal protection for animals is still alarmingly scarce. Since 2016, she has been rescuing and caring for vulnerable animals and is currently laying the groundwork for her own non-profit, focused on education and campaigning, to raise awareness around animal rights and protection, as well as policy-making.

    Beyond her professional roles, Yara uses poetry and short stories as advocacy tools, to challenge norms and portray animals with empathy and dignity.

  • Digital Engagement Analyst

    Gweimen Fen is a freelance researcher, academic tutor, and digital content creator with a strong interdisciplinary focus spanning artificial intelligence, STEM education, public health, ecology, and societal justice.

    With a background in biology and a passion for curriculum development and inclusive education, Gweimen brings a unique perspective to his work—one that bridges the gap between science, technology, and advocacy.

    He hails from the Nok ancestry—one of the oldest civilisations in Nigeria; and is currently based in Abuja. His work is deeply influenced by a sense of collective responsibility and a reverence for both human and non-human life.

    Gweimen believes that fairness, justice, and sustainability must extend to animals, plants, and the environment to ensure true progress. At ICARE, he brings his experience in digital communication and community engagement to support the movement for animal rights and ethical living.

  • Research Assistant

    Amanda is a recent graduate of New York University with her BA in Global Public Health and Global Liberal Studies.

    She is passionate about environmental health, sustainability, animal rights, and social justice. Her experience ranges from advocacy campaigns, research writing, and collaborating with organisations that align with her interests and values. 

  • Video Editor

    Ophelia is a communications specialist based in Amsterdam with a BA in Film and New Media and a MA in Communications with a focus on activist and social movement communication.

    She has always been fascinated by how dominant narratives continue to shape the world and seeks to disrupt them by promoting effective messaging for animal rights organisations.

  • Legal Researcher, Animals in Disasters

    After a distinguished career as a civil litigator and court-appointed guardian ad litem, Kimberly made a strategic shift to Animal Law to fiercely advocate for the rights of non-human animals. As a proud recipient of the Center for Animal Law Studies Leadership Award, she graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Laws (LLM) in Animal Law from Lewis & Clark Law School. 

    Kimberly was chosen as an Ambassador for the Center for Animal Law Studies Global Ambassador Program for the 2024/2025 term, where she took the initiative to launch Animal Law Alliance. As Executive Director, she is committed to providing pro bono legal services to animal welfare organisations that deliver critical care, housing, and services to companion animals, farmed animals, and wildlife. 

    As a passionate advocate for Animal Law, Kimberly is determined to expand rights and legal protections for all species. Her lifelong devotion to animals and her decision to embrace a vegan lifestyle exemplify her unwavering commitment to advancing animal welfare.

  • Legal Researcher, Animals in Disasters

    Valéria is a Brazilian attorney currently pursuing an LL.M. in Environmental and Energy Law at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Passionate about animal protection, she has been actively involved in rescuing animals from mistreatment in her home country and has volunteered with wildlife in Namibia.

    In addition to her practical experience, Valéria has also contributed to the academic field by writing articles on Animal Law. During her LL.M., she has been deepening her studies to strengthen environmental and animal protection through legal mechanisms, combining her legal expertise with a commitment to sustainability to drive positive impact.

  • Legal Researcher, Animals in Disasters

    Having completed her LL.M. and M.Phil. at the University of Colombo, specialising in Animal Welfare Law, Dulki is a Senior Executive Researcher at the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy (CELP) within the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo. She is the first Sri Lankan recipient of a full scholarship from Lewis & Clark Law School in the USA to study at the Center for Animal Law Studies’ renowned Online LLM in Animal Law program.

    Dulki has also contributed as an editor to the CELP publication A Compilation of Animal Welfare Provisions and Case Law, the first-ever compilation of animal welfare laws and judgments in Sri Lanka. She has written for various journals, newspapers, and book publications on animal-related issues in national, regional, and global contexts. Dulki is also an Associate Editor at the Journal of Animal Rights Law.

  • Researcher, Political Representation of Animals

    Thalia Puente Fernandez is a law student with a passion for social impact and community building.

    She has experience creating digital content, running campaigns, and supporting organisations that align with her values.

  • Legal Researcher, Wildlife Trafficking & Wildlife Crime

    After researching illegal wildlife trade during a BSc in Environmental Management from Technological University Dublin and an internship with Ecojust, Francois pursued an MSc in Environmental & Climate Law at University College Dublin to understand the role and importance that legislation plays in combating environmental crime.

    His current dissertation focuses on developing a theory of change to address bird of prey persecution in Ireland, and he recently joined ICARE’s wildlife crime team as a legal researcher.

  • Researcher, Political Representation of Animals

    Madelon is an MA graduate in Human Rights and Democratisation at the Global Campus of Human Rights. During her studies, she gained experience in the fields of Environmental Law, the Rights of Nature, and Animal Law.

    She is also deeply committed to animal welfare and animal protection, and is especially interested in the topic of legal representation of animals.

  • Legal Researcher, Animals in Disasters

    Katarína is an EU legal and policy expert with a decade of experience in international and European law. Passionate about sustainability, environmental protection, and animal welfare, she actively engages in advocacy and research initiatives.

    She has volunteered with animal shelters and organic farms and continues to expand her expertise in animal rights law and advocacy.

  • Legal Researcher, Animals in Disasters

    Aayami is a legal researcher specialising in animal law, human rights, and international policy. She holds an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law from the University of Law, UK and is a qualified human rights lawyer in Nepal. Her legal background includes work on access to justice, constitutional rights, and advocacy for marginalised communities.

    A lifelong vegan and committed effective altruist, Aayami is driven by a strong commitment to using evidence and reason to maximise positiveimpact. She strives to apply her legal expertise strategically to protect animals and promote their recognition as legal persons under the law, focusing on interventions that are both scalable and neglected to create the greatest possible change.

  • Legal Researcher, Animals in Disasters

    Verónica Ortiz is a Uruguayan lawyer with 20 years’ experience in Commercial Law. She is the first Uruguayan lawyer specialised in Animal Law and Animal rights, knowledge that she had to acquire outside her country. She is also a long-term activist with NGOs, focusing on human rights and animal rights (having worked in several animal protection associations). 

    As President of the Uruguayan Bar Association's Animal Law Committee since 2022, she organises various academic and non-academic events to improve the state of animal law in Uruguay and to inform citizens about animal sentience and respect for animals. She loves to meet people from different countries and cultures and to learn from them.

  • Legal Researcher, Wildlife Trafficking & Wildlife Crime

    Yareli Alfaro is a dedicated professional from New York who recently graduated with a Master of Arts in International Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

    With a strong background in client support and research, she has effectively managed public assistance programs and contributed to various legal and academic projects. Yareli is fluent in Spanish and is committed to advocating for community welfare and ethical practices.

  • Researcher, Political Representation of Animals

    Prithvi is a dedicated data scientist with a strong passion for animal rights and ethical practices. With a solid academic foundation and a commitment to social impact, he’s eager to apply his expertise in research and technology to support the recognition and protection of animals’ fundamental rights.

  • Researcher, Political Representation of Animals

    Kristina is a Research Master’s student in European Studies at Maastricht University, pursuing a double degree in Political Science in Cologne. Her thesis examines how the EU addresses marine protection in the Arctic and Mediterranean, particularly when environmental objectives conflict with political interests.

    A lifelong animal lover and horse rider, she has always been passionate about animal welfare. This has led her to volunteer with various organisations, including the horse rescue Progetto Islander in Italy, allowing her to broaden her perspective beyond academia.

Our Programmes

Start learning Animal Rights Law today.

With generous funding from

  • https://thepollinationproject.org/

  • http://craigslistfund.org/

  • https://manifund.org/

  • https://voiceless.org.au/

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