Beauty Without Cruelty

History

Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) a charity for animal rights was established in 1959 by the late Rt Hon Muriel, the Lady Dowding in England. The name BWC denotes that one can look beautiful and have beautiful things without being cruel to animals. The organization first began working for fur bearing animals by promoting the use of simulated furs which were proudly worn sporting a button which declared “Make no Mistake, my Fur is Fake”. In fact, BWC was the very first movement that created a worldwide awareness of the intense cruelties inflicted upon animals for the luxury trades – not only for fur and skins, but also other products like perfumes, cosmetics and toilet preparations.

Beauty Without Cruelty – India was started on 12th September 1974 by Diana Ratnagar who is to this day the Managing Trustee and Chairperson of the organization.

A few years after Lady Dowding’s demise in 1993, BWC in UK closed. Only two independently run BWC organisations are now in existence: South Africa and India. BWC - India does not accept any foreign aid or donations.

In India, BWC, an educational charitable trust for animal rights began by focusing on commercial exploitation of animals for vanity. Over the years the organization has within the framework of its aims and objects (BWC’s mandate does not include hands-on animal welfare work or the running of a shelter) expanded its scope of work to cover animals subjected to suffering, torture or death in the name of food, science, research, experimentation, dissection, testing, medicine, service, trade, entertainment, training, performance, exhibition, conservation, environment, confinement, genetic engineering, physical alteration, fashion, beauty preparations, toiletries, apparel, accessories, household goods, decorative items, religion, or for any other reason or purpose. This is in keeping with the BWC motto and logo: