Penal Sanctioning of Zoophilia in Light of the Legal Status of Animals—A Comparative Analysis of Fifteen European Countries

摘要

The aim of the research is to examine the legal status of animals and the criminal law regulation of zoophilia (commonly referred to as “bestiality”) in 15 European countries. These two factors were chosen because they show how societies relate to animals through legislation, that is, how much animals are protected because of their inherent value, and not just because of the interests of humans. In the case of their legal status, the study examined the shift from viewing animals as a simple legal object to giving them special legal status. This research also examined criminal law definitions related to zoophilia. The results of compiling and comparing country rankings for zoophilia and legal status show that countries that place greater emphasis on regulating zoophilia are also more likely to have clearer rules in place regarding the legal status of animals. Switzerland is a positive example of both factors, while Italy faces many challenges in establishing specific legislation.