World Day Against Speciesism Date in the current year: June 5, 2024

The term “speciesism” refers to the assignment of different rights, values, or special consideration to individuals solely on the basis of their species. It is typically used to describe “human supremacism” (anthropocentrism), the exclusion of all nonhuman animals from the rights and freedoms afforded to humans.

The term “speciesism” was first used by the British psychologist, author and animal rights advocate Richard D. Ryder, but the person who popularized it was the Australian moral philosopher Peter Singer. His book Animal Liberation, published in 1975, is widely considered to be the philosophical background of the animal liberation movement.

Animal rights advocates claim that speciesism is a prejudice similar to sexism or racism. There are plenty of arguments both in favor and against the theory of speciesism, but the bottom line is, most animal rights groups rely on this theory to justify their views. According to them, any use of animals by humans (to produce food and clothes, for scientific experiments, in the entertainment industry, etc.) is a form of discrimination and abuse.

World Day Against Speciesism was created to promote this idea among the general public. It is supported by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), and other animal rights groups.