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| Abbreviation | CIWF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1967; 58 years ago (1967) |
| Founder | Peter Roberts |
| Type | Charity |
| Registration no. | 1095050 |
| Purpose | Promotinganimal welfare |
| Location |
|
Region | Worldwide[1] |
| Methods | Advocacy,public education,research |
Chief Executive | Philip Lymbery |
| Staff | 102 |
| Volunteers | 4 |
| Website | www |
Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) is ananimal welfare organisation founded in 1967. It campaigns against thelive export of animals, certain methods of livestockslaughter, and all systems offactory farming.
Peter Roberts and Anna Roberts wereHampshire dairy farmers, who founded Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) in 1967. After being turned down by other groups, they started their own organization. Peter Roberts retired in 1991.[2][3] He was replaced as Chief Executive by Joyce D'Silva, who served until 2005 and now serves as ambassador.[4] Philip Lymbery, co-author ofFarmageddon, is the current Chief Executive.[5]
CIWF has offices in the UK, Italy, Netherlands, France, Poland, the United States, Brussels and China. Representatives are located in Czech Republic, Spain, Germany, South Africa, and Sweden.[6] CIWF was responsible for theveal crate ban in the UK, as well as bans on narrow stalls and chains on pregnant sows. The European Union recognised animals as sentient beings as a result of their petition.[7] In June 2023, Emma Silverthorn, the granddaughter of Anna and Peter Roberts, published a biography of the Roberts and a history of the charity titledRoaming Wild: The Founding of Compassion in World Farming.
Compassion in World Farming does not support violence or threats.[8][9] It is not opposed to killing animals and consuming their meat, but advocates for humane treatment throughout their lives.[10] Besides advocacy, it produces educational material for school children,[6] and has fought against what it calls industry-sponsored propaganda.[11] It presents awards including the Good Egg,[12] Good Chicken,[12] Good Dairy,[13] and Good Pig.[14] Its undercover investigations have revealed animal cruelty to hens,[15] cattle,[16] pigs,[17] and sheep.[18]
CIWF advocatesfree range systems, but accepts straw-bedded indoor systems for pigs.[14] It has warned about factory farming ofdairy cattle, which it says is neither economically beneficial for farmers nor healthy for cows.[19] It has advocated a complete ban onfur farming in Ireland, which it describes as "one of the most serious animal welfare problems facing Ireland today".[20] In 2002, it called for a global moratorium on all experimental or commercial cloning of farm animals.[21] It opposes the practice oflive export of farm animals for slaughter, instead advocating that the animals be slaughtered before transport.[22] In support of this position, its supporters have demonstrated in London,[22] Ipswich,[23] Belfast,[24] Ramsgate,[25] and Dover.[26] It has also campaigned to maintain a ban on the live transport of horses.[27] It supports a ban onfoie gras, calling this "an example ofintensive farming at its worst".[28]
Celebrity supporters have includedJoanna Lumley, who spoke against long distance animal transport,[29] andPaul McCartney, who advocated for reduced consumption of meat products.[30] In 2010,Jo Brand,Bill Oddie,Zac Goldsmith,Marc Abraham, andWilliam Roache endorsed CIWF's protest againstfactory farming of cattle by Nocton Dairies.[31] Early supporters includeSpike Milligan andCelia Hammond, who protested againstbattery cages.[7]
In 2007, CIWF won theBBC Radio 4 Food and Farming Award for the best food campaigner/educator.[32] In 2009, it won theBroadcast Digital Award for Best Use of Interactive for their Chicken Out! website.[33] In 2011, it won a Third Sector Excellence Award for its annual review[34] andThe Observer's Ethical Award for Campaigner of the Year.[35]
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