Inherited from Spain, bullfighting has been established in Latin America as a practice that has lasted over 500 years now. However, things are changing in this part of the world where bullfighting is losing its popularity.
Today, bullfighting is less perceived as cultural heritage and more as a synonym of animal cruelty and abuse. In Mexico, for example, 57 per cent of the population is against bullfighting* and Colombia, more than any other Latin American country, is undoubtedly moving towards a national ban.
Last year, ‘Colombia Sin Toreo’ an unprecedented coalition of Colombian animal welfare national and international organisations and individual activists achieved to bring the debate on the ban to the Congress. In December 2020, the draft law was approved in the first debate within the House of Representatives and now will need to pass another three debates before it becomes a law.
According to politicians backing the bill, young Colombians are not in favor of this activity which they rather see as barbaric and archaic and that will lead to its unavoidable end. The pandemic has also contributed to the suspension of bullfighting activities in Colombia. Some traditional rings such as the one in the city of Armenia and the one in Cartagena decided to even shut down and become a center for educational, cultural and even environmental activities.
SOS Animals Colombia NGOs, AnimaNaturalis Colombia and ADA are part of the anti-bullfighting coalition and on several occasions they have raised a strong voice in support of the prohibition of bullfighting in the country. For Colombian animal welfare organisations, progressive politicians and activists, this so-called tradition should no longer be part of the new Colombia that is now rewriting its history.
Are you also against bullfighting and would like to support the NGOs working on the ban or learn more about it? Do not hesitate to get in touch with us here.
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