Peruvian Students Demand Legal Recognition of Veganism as a Constitutional Right in Landmark University Lawsuit in Lima

Los Angeles, December 1, 2024 — In a historic legal battle, two students from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) are challenging long-standing traditions by suing their university for the right to access vegan meal options. Gabriela Santos Tacuri, a law student, and Luis Nitai Syam Florian Andrade, an anthropology student, claim that the lack of plant-based options in the university’s dining hall violates their fundamental rights to freedom of conscience, health, and equality. This case marks the first legal action in Latin America based on the issue of discrimination against vegans, setting the stage for a wider debate on food justice in the continent. UnchainedTV’s Jane Velez-Mitchell interviewed plaintiff Gabriela Santos Tacuri, along with Instituto de Defensa Legal attorney Isaac Peña Lobato, interpreter Yeniffer Yupanqui and Alison Hamje, a Climate Healer and Ollas Comunes Veganas representative. You can watch the conversation here:

The Legal Battle for Vegan Rights

The Peruvian students say that, for over a year, they requested vegan options, only to be met with silence or dismissal from the administration. Left with little choice but to pick out the meat from their plates and survive on rice and pasta, Santos and Florian turned to legal action. With the support of the Legal Defense Institute (IDL), Animal Law in Peru (DAP), and the activist group Acción Antiespecista, they filed a lawsuit with the Sixth Constitutional Court of Lima, demanding that their university provide nutritionally sound vegan meals and recognize veganism as an ethical belief protected by Peru’s constitution.

Specifically, the lawsuit makes three demands: 1) the university provide a vegan-friendly option in its University Dining Hall (which must be validated by a nutritionist specialized in vegan nutrition), 2) the university establish a registry of vegan students, and 3) veganism be recognized as an ethical principle protected by the right to freedom of conscience.

In an interview with Canal N, the university’s rector, Jeri Ramón Ruffner, dismissed the students’ demands as “absurd,” citing budget constraints. This response ignited a firestorm of public debate and media coverage. As the case moves through the courts, it has attracted attention from international legal experts, including Dr. Jeanette Rowley from The Vegan Society in the UK and Dr. Neal Barnard from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in the USA, who have provided amicus curiae briefs in support of the students.

Watch a Video about Another Campaign to End Discrimination Against Vegans:

Global Implications and the Fight for Justice

The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications, not only for Peru but for the entire region. If the court rules in favor of the students, it could set a legal precedent that veganism is a protected belief under freedom of conscience, forcing institutions across Latin America to consider vegan options in their meal programs. In 2020, the UK recognized ethical veganism as a protected class under the Equality Act 2010 —  after the first-ever litigation of its kind. In the same way, Peru could now take the torch and illuminate the path for vegan rights, so the rest of the world can follow.

Plaintiff Gabriela Santos Tacuri said this about why they had to take legal action:

“In my case, I live alone, so I have to deal with my expenses. The university has a dining room, so we asked the administration to provide us with plant-based options, but they didn’t answer us. They didn’t answer us until now, a year and a half later. Many students in San Marcos can’t buy food every day, and that’s why we need this.”

Isaac Peña Lobato, attorney for the Instituto de Defensa Legal, said this about the first hearing of this case:

“We had the hearing on September 9, and then there will be the judgement on another day. We are in a constitutional process, which means that it’s very fast if we compare it with other kinds of Court proceedings. In this case, I don’t know if we will have a judgment until the end of the year. We hope so, but it will depend on the judge.”

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“I think it has tremendous implications for all educational institutions, in Peru especially, and probably throughout the world.”— Dr. Sailesh Rao, Climate Healers

A Cultural Shift in Peru

Peru, a country known for its rich culinary traditions which only relatively recently became centered around meat, is seeing the rise of a vegan movement, particularly among younger generations. Santos and Florian’s case has garnered support from local vegan activists and international organizations alike. While the university’s administration remains resistant, there is a growing conversation about how institutions can evolve to meet the ethical and health needs of their diverse student bodies.

For the Peruvian students, this fight is deeply personal. Both have faced bullying and online harassment for their stance. Despite this, they remain resolute, knowing that their case could pave the way for future generations of vegans in Peru and beyond. As the case heads towards a final ruling, the world watches, with the potential to create a new chapter in the ongoing struggle for food justice and vegan rights.

We invite the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos to comment at any time.

“It is vital that we support courts around the world by sharing information that assists with the decision-making process.” —  Dr Jeanette Rowley, The Vegan Society

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