The legislators of the Green Party parliamentary group in the Congress of Mexico City, led by Jesús Sesma, have celebrated the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) that confirms the competence of the local Congress to legislate on crimes related to animal abuse and establish standards for their protection.
The SCJN approved a ruling on January 22 that validates articles 350 Bis and 350 Ter of the local Penal Code, which address and punish acts of abuse or cruelty against animals in Mexico City, including the prohibition of the use of animals in rites and traditions that may harm their welfare, in accordance with the Animal Protection Law of the capital.
In its statement, the First Chamber of the SCJN established that the concepts of cruelty, abuse, suffering, and agony defined in local law are not subjective but constitute clear acts of abuse and cruelty, aimed at protecting the life and integrity of animals.
Furthermore, the Chamber noted that the articles of the Constitution of Mexico City that recognize animals as sentient beings and establish the obligation to respect their life and integrity are not discriminatory for religious reasons and do not limit freedom of worship. Their purpose is to discourage any conduct, religious or not, that causes deliberate harm to animals.
In the words of Jesús Sesma, leader of the Green Party group, "The ruling issued by the First Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation will allow us to strengthen actions aimed at protecting the lives of sentient beings in the capital and throughout the country."
