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A Danish court has made a landmark ruling that vegans are protected under Article 9 of the European Court of Human Rights. The case arose when a Danish kindergarten and the municipality that runs it refused to provide vegan food for a child. The parents were even prohibited from sending a vegan packed lunch with their daughter. The family believed that this was discriminatory and violated their right to practice their way of life. If their daughter attended the public kindergarten, the family would be unable to adhere to their moral position of not harming animals.
The ruling states that people who follow a vegan lifestyle have the right not to be “treated worse than people without vegan convictions who are in a similar or comparable situation.” The court explained that if a vegan child is unable to access a kindergarten that provides vegan food and is not allowed to bring their own packed lunch, they are being treated unfairly. This is considered indirect discrimination, which violates Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights in conjunction with Article 9.
Families choose plant-based lifestyles for many reasons, whether it be health, animal welfare, the environment, or something else. Children around the world deserve access to delicious vegan options—and this landmark ruling in Denmark is a huge step in the right direction. Hopefully, we’ll see a similar ruling in the United States one day!
Are you inspired to take action against the meat and dairy industries? Click here for ways to get involved! And if you’re considering a plant-based lifestyle for you and your family, our How to Eat Veg guide is an excellent resource to get you started.