Alliance anticorrida
A French law association founded in Nîmes that campaigns against bullfighting and seeks stronger protection for animals and minors.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Alliance anticorrida, also known in English as the Anti-Corrida Alliance, is a French law association founded in Nîmes in May 1994. Its central objective is the abolition of bullfighting, together with the suppression of injuries and mutilations inflicted on animals used in bullfighting-related spectacles. The association also campaigns for the protection of minors from involvement in bullfighting activities and from promotional or educational messages that present the practice favorably. The organization combines legal action, public information, political advocacy, and public campaigning. It brings legal remedies against bullfighting activities that it considers contrary to legislation, including rules concerning animal treatment, public events, labor law, and the participation of children. Its campaigns have addressed both conventional bullfights and related regional practices such as bull rope events. The association has also challenged the use of bullfighting imagery and promotion in schools and has opposed the involvement of minors as performers or participants. Its public-information work has included the publication of periodic reviews, books, posters, and outdoor advertising. Three books associated with its educational output are La Mort donnée en spectacle, published in 1998; On est toujours le taureau de quelqu'un, published in 2003; and La Face cachée des corridas, published in 2006. During the summer season, the association has used large-format posters in major cities and banners towed by aircraft along the Mediterranean coast to communicate its anti-bullfighting message. Alliance anticorrida has also organized demonstrations and public events in Nîmes. Events reported in the reference material attracted approximately 1,800 to 3,000 participants in 2010 and approximately 2,000 to 3,000 participants in 2012. At the political level, it has supported legislative initiatives designed to restrict or prohibit bullfighting and participated in efforts connected with the European Parliament's 2015 decision to end Common Agricultural Policy support for bullfighting activities. The association reports several legal and policy outcomes. In 1997, a complaint led to the conviction of Robert Pilès, director of the Nîmes arenas, in connection with the employment of the twelve-year-old bullfighter El Juli and an alleged breach of labor law. In 2000, a prefectural order prohibited bull rope in the Hérault department. Further proceedings brought by the association contributed to a 2015 prohibition in Bouches-du-Rhône, confirmed by the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal later that year. In 2008, the French Ministry of National Education issued a note prohibiting proselytizing in favor of corrida in educational establishments. The association has also opposed bullfights involving minors, including events in Arles and Fontvieille in 2008. Beyond litigation and direct protest, Alliance anticorrida has promoted the withdrawal of bullfighting from charitable fundraising and commercial communications. It reported that several charities declined money raised through bullfighting events, while companies including IKEA and Afflelou removed bullfighting references from their communications. The association's work places it within France's broader animal-protection and anti-bullfighting movement, with a particular emphasis on legal enforcement, youth protection, and changing public policy.
History
Alliance anticorrida was established in Nîmes in May 1994 as a law association opposed to bullfighting. From its beginning, its work combined legal intervention with public education and political advocacy. Rather than limiting its activity to criticism of bullfights, the association addressed the legal framework surrounding animal spectacles, the treatment of animals, the involvement of children, and the public promotion of corrida. Its legal strategy has included complaints, court proceedings, and challenges to local practices. In 1997, a complaint concerning the employment of the twelve-year-old bullfighter El Juli resulted in the reported conviction of Robert Pilès, director of the Nîmes arenas, for a labor-law violation. The association also pursued restrictions on bull rope, a related bullfighting practice. A prefectural order prohibited the practice in Hérault in 2000. In Bouches-du-Rhône, proceedings initiated by the association led to a prohibition by the Tarascon court in January 2015, which was upheld by the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal in June of that year. Protection of minors became another major area of activity. In 2008, the association obtained a note from the Ministry of National Education prohibiting proselytizing in favor of corrida in schools and other educational establishments. It also reported the cancellation of bullfights in Arles and Fontvieille that involved minors, including the ten-year-old Michelito. In a later example, a bull and bullfighter were removed from a drawing displayed at the Prosper Mérimée school in Nîmes in 2015 after the association raised the issue. The association's communications work has developed alongside its litigation. It publishes periodic reviews and has issued three books: La Mort donnée en spectacle in 1998, On est toujours le taureau de quelqu'un in 2003, and La Face cachée des corridas in 2006. Seasonal campaigns have used large-format posters in major French cities and banners towed by aircraft over the Mediterranean coast. These activities seek to explain the association's objections to bullfighting and to challenge its presentation as harmless entertainment or cultural tradition. Alliance anticorrida has organized demonstrations and public gatherings in Nîmes, including events reported to have drawn between 1,800 and 3,000 participants in 2010 and between 2,000 and 3,000 in 2012. It has supported legislative proposals restricting or prohibiting bullfighting and participated in efforts associated with the European Parliament's 2015 decision to abolish Common Agricultural Policy aid for bullfighters. The organization has also worked on the relationship between bullfighting and charitable or commercial activity. It reported that Emmaüs, Rêves, Restos du Cœur, France ADOT, and the Association des paralysés de France declined funds associated with bullfighting charity events. It further reported that companies including IKEA and Afflelou removed bullfighting references from their communications. These efforts reflect a broader strategy of reducing the social legitimacy and commercial visibility of corrida. The available reference material does not identify a founder, chief executive, financial scale, membership total, or formal parent organization. The association is therefore best characterized as an independent French advocacy and legal-action organization headquartered in Nîmes, with activity focused primarily on bullfighting-related issues in France.
- 2015
Bull rope ban in Bouches-du-Rhône upheld
[1]The Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal confirmed a prohibition on bull rope in Bouches-du-Rhône.
- 2008
School promotion of corrida restricted
[1]The Ministry of National Education issued a note prohibiting pro-corrida proselytism in educational establishments.
- 2000
Bull rope banned in Hérault
[1]A prefectural order prohibited bull rope in the Hérault department.
- 1997
Labor-law case involving a minor bullfighter
[1]A complaint by the association led to the reported conviction of the director of the Nîmes arenas in connection with employing a twelve-year-old bullfighter.
- 1994
Association founded in Nîmes
[1]Alliance anticorrida was founded in May 1994 as a French law association opposing bullfighting.
Products and positioning
A specialist French animal-protection and legal-advocacy association focused on ending bullfighting, challenging related practices through the courts, and preventing the promotion or involvement of minors in bullfighting.
Book · 1998
La Mort donnée en spectacle
A 1998 publication associated with the association's educational and public-information work opposing bullfighting and examining the treatment of animals in the spectacle.
Book · 2003
On est toujours le taureau de quelqu'un
A 2003 book issued as part of Alliance anticorrida's campaign literature and intended to support public discussion of bullfighting and animal protection.
Book · 2006
La Face cachée des corridas
A 2006 publication presenting the association's critical perspective on bullfighting and its less visible effects and practices.
Publication
Periodic reviews
Four-monthly reviews used by the association to disseminate information about bullfighting, legal developments, animal protection, and its campaigns.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015European agricultural-aid advocacy
European Union
Alliance anticorrida was associated with efforts supporting the removal of Common Agricultural Policy aid for bullfighters.
Outcome. The European Parliament voted in 2015 to abolish such aid.
- 2012Nîmes public demonstrations
Nîmes · France
A further Nîmes event reportedly attracted approximately 2,000 to 3,000 participants.
- 2010Nîmes public demonstrations
Nîmes · France
The association organized a public event in Nîmes opposing bullfighting and bringing together a reported 1,800 to 3,000 participants.
- 2008Protection of minors
France
The association campaigned against minors taking part in bullfighting and against favorable promotion of corrida in schools.
Outcome. The Ministry of National Education issued a note restricting pro-corrida proselytism in educational establishments, and reported events involving minors were cancelled in Arles and Fontvieille.
- 1998Publications and public education
France
Alliance anticorrida expanded its educational work through periodic reviews and three books addressing bullfighting and animal protection.
Outcome. The publications became part of the association's continuing public-information program.
- 1994Legal campaign against bullfighting
France
The association's core campaign uses legal complaints and court proceedings to challenge bullfighting activities that it considers inconsistent with French law.
Outcome. The campaign has produced reported proceedings concerning minors, bull rope, school promotion, and related practices.
- Seasonal outdoor advertising
French cities · Mediterranean coast
During summer seasons, the association has used large-format posters in major cities and aircraft-towed banners along the Mediterranean coast to communicate its anti-bullfighting message.
Brand decisions
2015
Pursue judicial prohibition of bull rope in Bouches-du-RhôneStrategyBackground
The association challenged bull rope activities that it considered incompatible with an existing prefectural prohibition.
Action taken
It petitioned the Tarascon court, which prohibited the practice in January 2015.
Aftermath
The Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal confirmed the prohibition on June 25, 2015.
2008
Seek restrictions on pro-corrida activity in schoolsStrategyBackground
The association argued that educational establishments should not be used to promote bullfighting.
Action taken
It sought intervention from the Ministry of National Education.
Aftermath
The ministry issued a note prohibiting pro-corrida proselytism in educational establishments.
Recent events
- 2015
Bouches-du-Rhône court prohibits bull rope[1]
Lawsuit · Regulation
The Tarascon court prohibited bull rope in Bouches-du-Rhône after being petitioned by the association; the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal confirmed the ban in June.
- 2010
Public anti-bullfighting events held in Nîmes[1]
Campaign
Alliance anticorrida organized a Nîmes event reported to have attracted between approximately 1,800 and 3,000 participants.
- 2008
Education ministry restricts pro-corrida proselytism[1]
Regulation
The French Ministry of National Education issued a note prohibiting promotion of corrida in educational establishments after advocacy by Alliance anticorrida.
- 2008
Bullfights involving minors cancelled in Arles and Fontvieille[1]
Other
The association reported the cancellation of two bullfights in Arles and Fontvieille involving minors, including the ten-year-old performer Michelito.
- 2000
Bull rope prohibited in Hérault[1]
Regulation
The prefect of Hérault issued an order prohibiting the practice of bull rope, following action reported by the association.
- 1997
Complaint leads to labor-law conviction connected with a minor bullfighter[1]
Lawsuit · Other
A complaint by Alliance anticorrida led to the reported conviction of Robert Pilès, director of the Nîmes arenas, in connection with the employment of the twelve-year-old bullfighter El Juli.
Sources2 sources
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