In 2024, 146 land and environmental defenders around the world were murdered or disappeared, according to a new report from Global Witness.
The organization notes that the figure might actually be higher, given that many attacks often go unreported. This year’s figures are lower overall compared to last year’s which covered 2023 – down from 196 people to 146, though the researchers say that this does not mean that safety is improving for climate defenders around the world. Underreporting remains a global issue and there are often obstacles to verifying suspected instances of killings and disappearances. Researchers also note that alternative silencing tactics, such as abductions and criminalization, appear to be on the rise globally.
“States across the world are weaponizing their legal systems to silence those speaking out in defence of our planet,” said Rachel Cox, Global Witness’s senior campaigner. “Meanwhile, governments are failing to hold those responsible for defender attacks to account—spurring the cycle of killings with little consequence. World leaders must acknowledge the role they must play in ending this once and for all.”
Global Witness has produced an annual report on the killings and disappearances of environmental defenders since 2012. The organization catalogues the attacks through online reporting, tips, and documentation from civil society organisations, and works closely with organizations supporting defenders and their communities to verify information.
Many of the cases involved individuals defending their land from extractive practices. A total of 29 cases last year were linked to mining and extractives, eight to logging, and four to agribusiness, while over 62% of cases were linked to land or land reform.
In 2024, 82% of all cases took place in Latin America, where Global Witness has recorded the highest proportion of cases every year for over a decade. Colombia remained one of the worst places for defenders, with 48 killings across the country—a third of all lethal attacks globally— documented there. Mexico and Brazil were also among the nations with a high number of cases reported (18 and 12 respectively).
Guatemala saw a five-fold increase in the number of reported killings—jumping from four in 2023 to 20 in 2024. The rise is coupled with major political shifts in the country following the election of President Bernardo Arévalo, who vowed to fight corruption, tackle inequality, and rectify the discrimination against Indigenous Peoples after years of democratic erosion and corruption. Researchers say an increase in killings often comes with major political changes—Colombia and the Philippines both saw upticks in attacks against defenders following the elections of authoritarian presidents Ivan Duque and Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 and 2016.
The report comes amid major shifts in environmental and human rights policies around the world—including the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the Human Rights Council and the E.U.’s weakening of rules meant to protect human rights and the environment.
“Standing up to injustice should never be a death sentence,” Laura Furones, the report’s lead author, said in a press release. “It is critical that governments and companies turn the tide to uphold defenders’ rights and protect them rather than persecute them. We desperately need defenders to keep our planet safe. If we turn our backs on them, we forfeit our future.”
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