This report by Global Witness highlights the alarming increase in violence against land and environmental defenders globally. In 2020 alone, Global Witness reported 227 murders of defenders while protecting their communities, natural resources, and ecosystems. Beyond these killings, defenders and their communities face a range of silencing tactics, including death threats, surveillance, sexual violence, and criminalization. In particular, Indigenous communities, women defenders, and environmental activists disproportionately bear the brunt of this violence, which reflects the systemic issues of corporate impunity and weak governmental accountability.
Despite their vital role in safeguarding their land and combating climate change, defenders remain at constant risk due to corporate exploitation driven by profit, speed, and cost-cutting. Immediate action is needed from governments, corporations, and international organizations to ensure accountability, enforce the protection of human rights, and recognize the defenders’ invaluable contributions to the planet. The report emphasizes the urgent need to rethink the concept of “development” that is often associated with extractive coal mining industries. Actual development must prioritize the sustainable management of land and natural resources for the benefit of future generations, ensuring that the will of the local people is respected and their rights protected.
Download the report using the button above.
