Francisco Guerreiro gathers European political families to reject bullfighting as Cultural Heritage

Lisbon, 18 September 2020 - MEP Francisco Guerreiro (Greens/EFA) today sent a letter to the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay, protesting against the classification of bullfighting as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The letter was signed by 61 MEPs from 6 of 7 European political families and it includes the signatures of Greens/EFA co-presidents, Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts. 

“Bullfighting is an activity that depicts and glorifies abuse, violence and cruelty towards animals for the sake of the entertainment of a limited number of individuals around the globe,” says the letter sent to Audrey Azoulay. “We believe this application will be disregarded by UNESCO since it attempts against its basic principles,” says Francisco Guerreiro.

The letter has the support of 61 signatories, MEPs from 6 of the 7 political families who came together because they consider “such distinction would undermine the purpose and credibility of UNESCO’s very important humanitarian mission”.

The initiative of the Portuguese MEP came after he knew the UNESCO Secretariat for the Convention received, on 7 June, an application from the International Tauromaquia Association (based in Spain) to classify the activity of bullfighting as Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

“The brutality associated with bullfighting events is not overlooked by the European Parliament and this letter reflects that. Todau, animal rights are stronger in Europe’s house os democracy,” says Francisco Guerreiro.

The application of International Tauromaquia Association will most likely be discussed by the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Committee at its meeting in October this year.

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