Nuove prospettive del diritto costituzionale comparato: la tutela giuridica degli animali

The essay first examines the definitional aspects of animal law and/ or animal rights, particularly in relation to environmental law, as well as in connection to anthropocentric and biocentric approaches and the debate between abolitionists and protectionists. It then analyses, in a broad comparative perspective, the main constitutional provisions that presently provide for the protection of animals and the dignity of sentient creatures, both in countries that follow the Western legal tradition that in extra-occidental legal contexts. Finally, it considers critically the prospects for the possible reform of the Italian Constitution, in view of the (best) protection of non-human animals.