Parliament Votes to Add Animal Protection to Constitution (Germany)
Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/05/17/germany.animals/index.html

Ending a debate that has stretched over 10 years, the German parliament
voted on Friday to anchor protection for animals in the country's
constitution.

(article excerpt)Germany has become the first European nation to vote to
guarantee animal rights in its constitution. A majority of lawmakers in
the Bundestag voted on Friday to add "and animals" to a clause that
obliges the state to respect and protect the dignity of humans. The main
impact of the measure will be to restrict the use of animals in
experiments. In the end 543 lawmakers in Germany's lower house of
parliament voted in favour of giving animals constitutional rights.
Nineteen voted against it and 15 abstained. The vote is expected to be
approved by the Bundesrat upper house this summer.(end excerpt)