Preferencias académicas de los estudiantes de la carrera de Derecho y su vinculación con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) a través del estudio de sentencias

Abstract

Abstract: In Ecuador, several recent analyses advocate considering animals as subjects of rights, emphasizing their freedom and dignified treatment due to their capacity to experience pain and suffering. This descriptive study, based on exegetical and hermeneutical methods, along with content analysis, examines the recognition of animal rights in rulings of the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court. In this context, it highlights the urgent need to incorporate these recognitions into the national legal system and strengthen the corresponding sanctions to prevent any form of animal abuse and exploitation. Important contributions to doctrine are also proposed, such as the principles of interspecies relationships and ecological interpretation, which emphasize the diversity of animal qualities and the importance of ensuring their physical integrity to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. These principles safeguard animal rights and also foster human respect and responsibility toward them. It is concluded that the Ecuadorian legal system must implement concrete measures of protection and freedom, promoting good treatment of animals and considering them as subjects with full rights.