Colombia’s congress passed a bill on Tuesday that prohibits bullfighting, a contentious yet popular activity in the South American nation that attracts thousands of spectators annually.
The bill now awaits approval from Leftist President Gustavo Petro, who commended lawmakers for ensuring that “death is not a spectacle” in a post on X.
The lower house approved the bill with a 93-2 vote, setting a ban on bullfighting starting in 2027.
This legislation would align Colombia with other countries in the region that have already banned bullfighting, such as Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Guatemala.
Prior to 2027, the government would be responsible for assisting the tens of thousands of individuals who rely on bullfighting for their income in finding alternative employment opportunities.
The law would also mandate the transformation of the country’s arenas for other sports and cultural events.
Lawmaker and environmentalist Juan Carlos Losada referred to this decision as a “historic milestone”.
He stated that Colombia will no longer be on the “sad list” of countries that consider bullfighting, which involves animal cruelty, as a cultural institution.
Although bullfighting was recognized as part of Colombia’s cultural tradition by the Constitutional Court in 2018, Bogota, one of the oldest bullfighting cities in the Americas, has prohibited the killing or injuring of bulls in the hopes of eventually ending the practice.
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While Medellin has imposed restrictions on bullfighting, it remains popular in cities like Cali and Manizales.
Colombia is among the few countries where bullfights are still permitted, along with Ecuador, France, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and Venezuela.
For instance, Quito, Ecuador prohibits the killing of the bull during bullfights.
Despite the ban, around 40,000 spectators filled the largest bullring in Mexico in January after the Supreme Court lifted a suspension on the practice.
The bill to ban bullfighting in Colombia was introduced in 2020 during the presidency of Ivan Duque, but the vote was postponed.
Proponents of the ban argued that bullfighting symbolizes a controversial aspect of Spanish colonialism, and goes against constitutional rights to a healthy environment, human dignity, and the recognition of animals as sentient beings deserving of protection.
The parliamentary debate preceding the vote included input from mayors, representatives of the livestock industry, bullfight organizers, and various animal rights organizations.
Bullfighter Johan Andres Paloma, 22, expressed his “pride” in his profession, which he described as “a symbol of identity” for many Colombians.
Paloma mentioned that approximately 35,000 people directly depend on bullfighting for their livelihood, not including those employed indirectly or informally in the industry.
According to Paloma, there are around 300 bullfighting events held annually at approximately 70 locations in Colombia.
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