Colombian Congress Votes to Ban Bullfighting by 2027
- Posted on May 29, 2024
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
- 121 Views
Colombia's Congress voted to ban the controversial tradition of bullfighting by 2027, culminating years of pressure from animal rights groups who considered the practice cruel.
Colombia’s congress voted to ban the centuries-old practice of bullfighting across the country from 2027 onwards. The decision follows years of advocacy for the change by animal lovers who consider the process inhuman.
Bullfighting was brought to Colombia by Spanish settlers and has since become part of the nation’s traditions; spectators flock to large arenas in Bogota and Medellin to watch the spectacle. However, there have been increasing calls in recent decades to ban blood sports.
Although the bill has to go through the presidential approval of Gustavo Petro, who supports the ban, this is expected to be just a mere formality. Petro applauded Congress’s approval, saying in a tweet, saying, “Those who enjoy the death of animals will end up enjoying the death of human beings.
Fights lovers had equally demonstrated against the ban saying it would affect breeders, vendors, and anyone associated with the events. To soften the blow, the bill grants individuals affected a chance to seek compensation for the loss of income for three years from the time the bill is implemented. As of now, the existing bullrings are to be used for cultural and sporting activities only in the future.
The action makes Colombia the latest Latin American country to outlaw a practice that has been banned in nations such as Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. However, it is still legal in some other regional countries such as Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
In different parts of the world particularly in Europe, people still engage in bullfighting, especially in Spain and some regions of France although some cities have banned the activity. Controversy persists as to whether the practice is either right or wrong.
