HARMONIA COM A NATUREZA: OS DIREITOS DOS ANIMAIS NÃO-HUMANOS SOB A PERSPECTIVA EVOLUTIVA DO DIREITO ECOLÓGICO LATINO-AMERICANO

Abstract

Discussions about the rights of non-human animals have gained global prominence, highlighting the need to review and expand legal protections. The environmental crisis of the Anthropocene, characterized by habitat destruction and the exploitation of natural resources, directly impacts animal welfare, demanding a more rigorous response from legal systems. This study is significant for fostering scientific production and contributing to the defense of non-human animals, living beings who deserve legal protection against cruel and abusive practices. The research focuses on legislative and jurisprudential initiatives in countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, which have gradually incorporated the protection of non-human animal rights into their constitutions and court rulings. This article employs exploratory and descriptive methods, based on bibliographic and documentary reviews, with the aim of examining the evolution of legal protection for non-human animals and its practical implementation in Latin American Constitutional Courts. Consequently, it becomes evident that the clash between economic development and ecological-environmental protection, particularly in Latin American countries, has brought to the forefront the debate on valuing non-human animals beyond objectification, recognizing them as sentient beings with intrinsic rights.