The animal rights organization PETA Latino has named President Claudia Sheinbaum Person of the Year. PETA Latino noted that during her first year in office, the federal head of state achieved "extraordinary advances for animals". They stated that she promoted unprecedented constitutional reforms to combat cruelty towards all species, paved the way to end bullfighting in Mexico City, and prohibited the breeding of dolphins in dolphinariums. "She has made it clear that it is time to protect animals", which is why she is PETA Latino's first Person of the Year.
A champion of compassion. The NGO fighting for animal rights highlighted that one of her first major moves as president, Sheinbaum enshrined animal protection in the Mexican Constitution, "the first time our fellow animals were formally recognized in the country's supreme law".
Among the changes is Article 4, which states:
Animal abuse is prohibited. The Mexican State must guarantee the protection, proper treatment, conservation, and care of animals, as specified by the corresponding laws.
After this historic reform, PETA Latino explained, came more victories for animals in Mexico, including a law introduced and passed by Sheinbaum Pardo that prohibits the confinement, exploitation, and breeding of dolphins for "entertainment", marking the end of the operation of cruel dolphinariums in Mexico.
And at another pivotal moment, President Claudia Sheinbaum openly supported the regulation that limits bullfighting in CDMX, a measure she described as "a very important step" that would save bulls from being tortured and killed in these events. Shortly after, Michoacán completely banned bullfighting in the state.
"PETA Latino has been celebrating President Sheinbaum on each of these advances, and not only that, we have helped lay the groundwork for these achievements by changing cultural attitudes and catapulting the issue of animal liberation into the center of public conversation through impactful protests, campaigns with major celebrities, government petitions, action alerts, and more.
"We have launched waves of action, contributed to the closure of facilities that exploit animals like the Dolphinarium at the Barceló Hotel in Mexico, and mobilized tens of thousands of supporters against bullfighting, now banned in six Mexican states.
"By keeping the public informed, engaged, and active, we continue to make historic victories for animals possible," the NGO emphasized.
The world needs more leaders like Sheinbaum. By prioritizing animal protection in the Constitution, PETA Latino said, Sheinbaum has set a powerful example of a government that values the lives and well-being of all individuals.
"Her leadership shows that progress is not measured only in human terms, because every animal is someone with their own life, feelings, and relationships".
Bulls, for example, are naturally calm and social animals that protect members of their herd, but in the ring, humans provoke them, stab them, and violently kill them in front of cheering crowds.
While dolphins spend their lives swimming up to 100 kilometers a day with their family in the ocean, in marine parks and other abuse facilities, they live in tiny concrete tanks, forced to perform and deprived of their natural lives.
"PETA Latino is delighted to name Sheinbaum Person of the Year for her vision, empathy, and unwavering commitment to creating a more compassionate world for all. Her example is an inspiring reminder that we all have the power to make a difference: speak out against bullfighting and amusement parks like SeaWorld, go vegan, and advocate for animal liberation in our communities".
