The World Dog Alliance (WDA) was invited to the public debate in Yokohama, as an international NGO, on the election of the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (Rikken DPJ).

Four candidates are running for the leadership of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (Rikken DPJ) in the election on November 30, and public debates are being held all over in Japan. 

All eyes are on how the largest opposition party rebuilds its future after a disastrous defeat in the House of Representatives election. In its manifesto for the House of Representatives election, the Rikken Democrats set out policies such as strengthening the responsibility of animal handling business operators, increasing penalties for abuse, developing laws on animal welfare and enacting a “Zoo Licensing Act” establishing an animal police force to crack down on animal cruelty, and considering a system of stripping ownership and emergency temporary protection. 

The WDA has been proposing the International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats in the cross-party Parliamentary League for Animal Welfare and the Rikken Democratic Party’s Parliamentary League for Animal Protection. On 3 December, 2020, both Parliamentary Leagues made a request to the government, calling for the International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats, and we are catching up with the updates from the United States and the United Kingdom. 

After this Party leadership election, a new session at the National Diet will begin  in mid-January next year, and various deliberations will begin.

The WDA will provide information to parliamentarians from all parties, and ensure that animal welfare, especially the International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats will be on agenda.