What is CAP?
Founded in 2017, our non-profit organization has been committed to integrating the protection of animals and their environment into the law through effective and coordinated political action.
Our mission focuses on four key areas of action:
- Mobilize and raise awareness among all political decision-makers in favor of the animal cause. Our advocacy efforts aim to identify and create legislative opportunities by fostering collaboration between NGOs and political decision-makers to achieve concrete legislative progress for animals. CAP leads several animal protection campaigns and utilizes the expertise of its NGO partners to support and advise policymakers.
- Support and strengthen the animal rights movement. CAP supports and advises its NGO partners in their advocacy work, encouraging the convergence of their political demands and the emergence of collective action (public campaigns, open letters, opinion pieces, etc.).
- Establish and strengthen ties between politicians and non-governmental actors. Over the past few years, we have built a network of political allies who are receptive to the concerns of NGOs, creating opportunities for regular meetings and exchanges (events, workshops, networks, etc.).
- Inform citizens and encourage public debates on these issues, particularly during elections. (Example of a campaign: Engagement Animaux 2022 – Animal Commitment 2022).
CAP focuses on the national level (with MPs, senators, the government, the administration, etc.) but also has repercussions at the European level, as France’s position on this issue evolves. Additionally, the CAP Municipal Network facilitates discussions between local elected representatives and NGOs.
Why CAP?
For several years, the animal cause has become a significant issue for society, and public opinion has increasingly become sensitive to the fate of animals, as demonstrated by opinion polls and advancements in scientific knowledge. The law is a powerful force for change and should reflect the evolution of our societies.
While private interest lobbies, such as those for intensive agriculture and hunting, have historically been very influential and well-organized in France, we found that action by animal protection NGOs at the political level lacked regularity and coordination. As a result, few political players were genuinely aware of and mobilized on this issue, and isolation served as an additional obstacle to action.
What was missing was a trusted intermediary to facilitate discussions and bring them together. We believe it is necessary to make progress in the animal condition in France by encouraging the convergence of all involved forces. Therefore, we decided to build a bridge between political decision-makers and NGOs.
Our Values
These values guide our actions. We share them with all our supporters and partners to build long-lasting and mutually aligned relationships.
Independence
We are politically independent and are not linked or affiliated with any political party or movement. We believe that this independence is essential to convince and mobilize all political players.
Efficiency
Above all, we believe in collective effectiveness: our method aims to strengthen cooperation and pool resources and skills among the players involved to achieve concrete results. To this end, we are committed to professionalism and thoroughness, developing sound political expertise to promote the adoption of new laws. In this way, we can have a large-scale impact on the lives of millions of animals.
Pragmatism
For us, pragmatism is key to effectiveness. We present demands that can be heard by political players and are convinced of the value of ‘small steps’ to build more ambitious policies in the long term. We also understand that political staff face many constraints that may not always allow them to progress as quickly or substantially as we would like. We take these parameters into account in our actions and interactions.
Respect
We place particular importance on maintaining respectful relations with all our stakeholders, including our opponents. Similarly, respect for our democratic institutions is one of our fundamental values. We ensure that our actions and discourse are consistent with respect for human dignity and human rights.
Benevolence
Our advocacy work is not about coercion but about persuasion. We strive to be honest, empathetic, and educational with all our stakeholders.