Animal rights in Colombia
Encyclopedia
Animal rights in Colombia refers to topics related to Animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. The Colombian constitution
Colombian Constitution of 1991
The Political Constitution of Colombia, better known as the Constitution of 1991, is the current governing document of the Republic of Colombia. Promulgated on July 4 of 1991 , it replaced the Constitution of 1886...
does not recognize animal rights, however Law 84 of 1989 stipulated a statute to protect animals, with the exception of bullfighting
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment...
and cock fights, which are considered to be part of the Culture of Colombia
Culture of Colombia
Many aspects of Colombian culture can be traced back to the early culture of Spain of the 16th century and its collision with Colombia's native civilizations . The Spanish brought Catholicism, African slaves, the feudal encomienda system, and a caste system that favored European-born whites...
. Despite having a legislation against animal trafficking, Colombia is one of the major sources and routes for animal trafficking in the world. There are numerous non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s working in Colombia on behalf of animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
.
Legal issues
The Colombian ConstitutionColombian Constitution of 1991
The Political Constitution of Colombia, better known as the Constitution of 1991, is the current governing document of the Republic of Colombia. Promulgated on July 4 of 1991 , it replaced the Constitution of 1886...
does not officially establish an ethical duty of society to protect the environment, instead it does mention that people has the right to live in a healthy environment in chapter 3 about, Collective and Environmental rights.
Law 99 of 1993 established the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development
Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development
The Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia charged with determining and regulating the standards and guidelines for the protection of the environment, the improvement and availability of potable water, and the...
but simply to guarantee service for humans. Animals were placed as belongings that served humans.
Penalties
Legal penalties of the interest of animal rights are stipulated in Law 599 of 2000 which ways that the illicit advantage taken of the renewable natural resources would be penalized; trafficking, commercializing, taking advantage or benefiting of specimens, products or parts of the faunaFauna of Colombia
.The Fauna of Colombia is characterized by a high biodiversity, with the highest rate of species by area unit worldwide.-Endemisms:Colombia has the largest number of endemisms worldwide. About 10% of the species in the world live in Colombia...
or flora
Flora of Colombia
The Flora of Colombia is characterized by a high biodiversity, with the highest rate of species by area unit worldwide. Over 130.000 species of plants have been described within Colombian territory.-National flower of Colombia:...
resources in danger will be penalized with between 2 to 5 years of prison and ten Colombian minimum monthly salaries.
Law reforms attempt
In September 2003 a project or draft to reform Law 84 of 1989 did not pass in the Congress of ColombiaCongress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
. The reform proposed the imposition of legal penalties to those who did not abide by the law.