He stated that the investigative work has revealed cases in which the aggressors subject their partners’ pets as method of psychological pressure and manipulation at homes.
The Attorney General, Francisco Barbosa Delgado, participated in the forum about Legal protection of animals in Colombia “Protección legal de los animales en Colombia: avances y desafíos frente al derecho penal” organized by Foros Semana, in which he highlighted the constant strengthening of the Special Group for the Fight against Animal Abuse Grupo Especial para la Lucha contra el Maltrato Animal (Gelma) to contribute to the protection of animals and guarantee an exemplary sanction against aggressors.
“The animals’ rights is an approach that cannot simply be a cutting-age issue, it has to be an issue that is integrated into our legal system. We have done it. We are talking about new citizens that have to be recognized and this is related to the commitment of the Office of the Attorney General to be able to broaden the spectrum of protection that has been promoted through the Gelma group”,assured the Attorney General.
He stated that the investigative and judicial growth of the Gelma group has made it possible to expose a criminal phenomena in different scenarios of society, such as the family and homes, where animals are involved and threatened.
“It does not mean that these behaviors did not exist, the truth is that they were not really seen and this necessarily has to do with attacks against women that we have begun to see which is tied to psychological pressure about their pets and ended up with extortion and manipulation inside their homes”, he emphasized.
During his speech, the Attorney General detailed the tools that have been created and put into operation since February 2020 to increase the response capacity of Gelma prosecutors and investigators which is to address cases rigorously and obtain results that raise awareness about protection to animals.
“This action is based on five pillars: one, a differential approach; two, an individual-society-State co-responsibility; three, cross-cutting, in the understanding that animal abuse is compatible with the commission of other crimes; four, phenomena of microcriminality for specific cases and macrocriminality when crimes against the environment and natural resources occur; and five, prevention of interrelated violence, animal abuse escalates to other vulnerable population groups”, explained Attorney General Barbosa Delgado.
Figures
In just over 31 months, since February 2020, the Gelma group has achieved 498 accusations and 122 convictions on animal abuse. These achievements, in addition to increasing per year, have a positive impact on the reduction of crimes against animals and have brought the Prosecutor’s Office closer to various social sectors that show their interest in the care and protection of animals.
“A 50% reduction in cases of animal abuse in the context of sexual violence, progress of 80% of the cases of animal abuse in the context of domestic violence, 185 training events for external actors with knowledge of the subject, and an intercultural dialogue with indigenous people and Afro communities in Cauca regarding indigenous justice and ordinary justice concerning animal protection, which I believe is a cutting-edge issue in the country” concluded the Attorney General.
When we speak, results follow.
The information contained in this press release corresponds to the narration of the objective news provided by the officials in charge of carrying out criminal investigations within the Office of the Attorney General. By the time this communication is disclosed, the legal status of the people mentioned is still pending to be resolved by the competent judicial authority, always under the presumption of innocence contemplated by Article 29 of the Political Constitution and Article 7 of Law 906 of 2004.