The Colombian Congress has announced a bill that could see a proposed ban against all forms of animal cruelty, including bull fighting, put to referendum, El Espectador reported Friday.
The bill, developed under the Third National Forum against Animal Cruelty in Congress, is the initiative of Senator Camilo Sanchez, a member of the Liberal Party.
Sanchez said that Colombia is one of only seven countries in the world where animal cruelty is accepted in some form, and pressed his colleagues to join his stance against the “circus that mistreats animals.”
Stating that absolutely all forms of animal abuse must be prohibited, Sanchez seemed confident in his chances of success, saying, “It’s going to be very difficult for our opponents when carrying out the referendum where 95% of Colombians are convinced that we must be not only aware of our animals but the environment as a whole.”
The senator will begin collecting signatures in the coming days in order to gain enough support in Congress to carry out the referendum.
In August 2010, the Constitutional Court rejected the most recent request for a ban against bull and cock fighting.