BAGOTA, Columbia: Colombian President Gustavo Petro has officially enacted a law banning bullfighting, marking a significant cultural shift in the country.
The law, celebrated on Monday at Bogota’s bullring—now renamed the Santamaria Cultural Square—puts an end to a practice that had been constitutionally recognized as part of Colombia’s heritage.
Petro, addressing a crowd that included animal rights activists, emphasized the inhumanity of killing animals for entertainment. He argued that such practices reflect a broader moral issue and rejected the notion that culture justifies cruelty. The new legislation, which was passed by Congress in late May, prohibits bullfighting nationwide and mandates the transformation of bullrings into cultural or sports venues by 2027.
The law’s passage follows a 2018 Constitutional Court ruling that had previously permitted bullfighting in traditional locales. Petro’s administration has responded to public demand for greater animal rights protection, echoing sentiments expressed by influencers and activists like Luana Delgado, who highlighted the importance of transforming venues previously associated with violence into spaces for cultural enrichment.
Jesus Merchan, an animal rights advocate, celebrated the ban as the end of a painful chapter for animal welfare in Colombia. The new law will provide a transition period to reallocate jobs and repurpose bullrings, reflecting a growing trend across Latin America where countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, and Uruguay have already outlawed bullfighting.
Despite the ban, bullfighting remains prevalent in some Latin American countries and European nations like France, Spain, and Portugal. Colombia’s new law signifies a shift towards modernizing cultural practices and aligning with global animal rights standards.
