Our key takeaway: The latest figures are in - and they are not good. Last year, 177 defenders (at least) lost their lives for protecting our planet. Just like in 2021, a defender was killed every other day in 2022 (on average). Agribusiness, mining and logging emerge as key sectors connected to the deaths - although there are others too. More than a third (36%) of the defenders murdered were Indigenous peoples and 7% were Afro-descendant. The figures include five children. Global Witness makes clear that this is just one part of the picture. There are a number of deaths that go unreported. And there are other ways of harming people beyond killing them: criminalisation, harassment and digital attacks are also being used to silence defenders. Global Witness finds that Latin America is particularly concerning - with 88% of the killings (in particular in Colombia, Brazil and Mexico). And these killings will increase - since the worsening climate crisis and the ever-increasing demand for agricultural commodities, fuel and minerals will only intensify the pressure on the environment – and those who risk their lives to defend it. What are companies to do? Identify, prevent, mitigate and remedy any harms in their operations against defenders. Ensure legal compliance and corporate responsibility at all levels. And implement a rights-based approach for addressing climate change.
Global Witness published ‘Standing Firm: The Land and Environmental Defenders on the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis’ (September 2023):