Raising awareness of the importance of and legal basis for nonhuman rights

In 2016, acclaimed filmmakers D A Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus released a documentary that follows the NhRP’s novel mission and work to transform nonhuman animals from legal “things” with no rights to “persons” with fundamental rights, beginning with four captive chimpanzees in New York.

In 2015, NhRP President Steven M. Wise was invited to give a TED Talk on nonhuman rights. In it, he details how, for thousands of years, nonhuman animals have been viewed and treated as mere things under the law. Drawing on legal history, he explains how and why the NhRP is working to change nonhuman animals' legal status.

We're a serious bunch, but in order to stay strong and resilient while doing this often emotionally taxing work, we believe it's important to have a sense of humor sometimes too. Check out Steve's 2014 conversation with comedian Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report.