The 14th Biennial Asia for Animals Conference (AfA) Celebrates 25 Years of Impact with Landmark Conference in Taiwan Speakers from Over 30 Countries and Global Advocates Gather to 「Reflect and Break Boundaries」
President Lai Ching-Te Attends and Delivers Opening Remarks
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN – The Asia for Animals Coalition (AfA), the world's largest network of animal advocacy and protection organizations, will mark its 25th anniversary with the 14th Biennial AfA Conference in Taipei, Taiwan, from August 26-28, 2025. This year, it is co-hosted by three distinguished Taiwanese animal protection organizations: the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST), the Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA), and the Taiwan Human Animal Studies Institute (THASI).
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The theme of this year’s conference is 「Reflection and Breaking Boundaries- Rethinking Approaches for Animal Protection」.Topics covered at the conference feature a wide range of issues, including the management of free-roaming animals, farm animal welfare, wildlife conservation, aquatic animal welfare, animal experiments and scientific applications, animals in entertainment, religion and animals, dialogue with industry, and policy and advocacy. The three-day program features keynote speeches, thematic workshops and forums, cultural exchanges, and in-depth discussions on stakeholder engagement, government–industry collaboration, strategies for transformation, innovative approaches to advocacy, and building cross-regional partnerships.
The milestone gathering at the Taipei Marriott Hotel will unite over 600 advocates, researchers, scholars, government representatives, industry professionals, and members of the public from over 30 countries.
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President Lai Ching-Te attended the opening ceremony and delivered a thoughtful speech. He noted that hosting AfA in Taiwan for the first time marks a significant milestone in the nation’s engagement on the international stage for animal protection, demonstrating the Taiwanese people’s respect and compassion for life. He emphasized that animal protection is not only about animal welfare but also a cornerstone for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, as well as for achieving sustainable development. President Lai highlighted the establishment of the Department of Animal Welfare within the Ministry of Agriculture and the promotion of the One Health approach as concrete expressions of Taiwan’s commitment to animal protection. Looking forward, Taiwan will deepen international cooperation, share experiences, and work hand-in-hand with the global community to create a future of harmony between people and animals.
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Representatives of the three Taiwanese co-hosts—EAST, TSPCA, and THASI—jointly stressed in their opening statements that animal protection knows no borders. They described the grand convening of the AfA conference in Taiwan as an important milestone for the nation’s animal protection movement, expressing a shared hope that the government will continue to improve animal welfare through legislation, policy, education, and concrete action, positioning Taiwan as a leader of the animal protection movement in Asia.
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"Twenty-five years ago, we recognized the need for a unified voice for animal protection across Asia," said Sarah Grant, CEOof AfA. “Since its founding in 2000, AfA has grown from a small gathering of concerned organizations to a powerful network of 400+ organizations and 26 Core Members spanning the entire globe. The Coalition has become the leading platform for animal protection collaboration in Asia, shaping regional animal welfare policy and practice for over two decades.”
"This year's conference is about honest assessment and bold innovation," noted Sirjana Nijjar, Co-CEO of AfA, "We're bringing together the collective wisdom of 25 years to chart new pathways for animal protection that are more effective, inclusive, and sustainable. We are laser focused to support Asian organizations especially grassroots and we are sure that this conference provides a perfect platform for the organizations to exchange knowledge, build relationships and learn effective strategies from each other to impact animals at scale. "
【Additional Information about Asia for Animals Coalition】
Global Impact, Regional Focus
AfA’s vision of a world where animal sentience is respected and all animals live good lives continues to drive its activities. AfA'smission extends beyond conferences to year-round advocacy, capacity building, and resource sharing. The Coalition serves as a central hub for animal protection organizations seeking guidance, collaboration opportunities, and strategic support. Recent initiatives include groundbreaking research reports, social media platform partnerships to combat animal cruelty content, and policy advocacy at international forums.
A Quarter-Century of Achievement
Asia for Animals Coalition - Key milestones over the past 25 years include:
● Launch of specialized working groups -
○ Formation of world’s first coalition to combat animal cruelty content on social media platforms - SMACC (Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition)
○ Asia’s first Macaque Coalition that facilitate communication and collaboration between organizations working on macaques
○ Farm Animal Coalition to build a strong and united farmed animal protection movement across Asia
○ Elephant Coalition
● 2022: Launch of -
○ AfA Policy Coalition that empowers grassroots organizations by simplifying jargon around international policies and empowers members by providing tools to work policy issues
○ Sanctuaries and Rescue Centres Coalition which is a collaborative and united space for organizations to come together, seek connections, and exchange advice and guidance
○ One Life - an educational resource that helps our movement promote animal sentience to the region.
○ Compassion in Balance Asia - a free resource and self study course catered for our network to alleviate the symptoms of working in animal protection such as compassion fatigue and burnout.
● 2023: Launch of -
○ The Dog and Cat Coalition which is a centralized space to discuss cat and dog issues
○ Capacity in Animal Protection Coalition - the first Asia wide capacity building platform through Capacity in Animal Protection Coalition supporting organizations through various resources a
● 2024: Establishment of AfA CONNECT event, taking place every other year from our conference - an online quarterly series of sessions to enhancing network communication
● 2025: Launch of -
○ Disaster Resilience Coalition established to addressregion specific challenges in disaster response and preparedness
Chief Coordinator and Media Liaison for the Event
Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST) Yu min Chen 0910-150-908
