The report, titled Roots of Resistance, highlights that while the 2024 figure is lower than the 196 cases recorded in 2023, the decline does not signal an improvement in safety. Colombia remains the most hazardous nation for activists, accounting for 48 deaths. Latin America continues to be the epicenter of this violence, representing 82% of all documented cases worldwide. Indigenous individuals were disproportionately affected, comprising one-third of the total victims, with the mining and extractives industry identified as the deadliest sector for those standing in the way of industrial expansion.
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Environmental Activists Face Deadly Price for Protecting Natural Resources
At least 146 people were killed or disappeared last year for defending land and environmental rights, according to a new report by Global Witness. The findings underscore a global crisis where those protecting forests, rivers, and ecosystems are frequently targeted with lethal violence rather than respected for their work.
Systemic Failure and State Complicity
Global Witness experts argue that governments are increasingly weaponizing legal systems to silence dissent instead of safeguarding those who monitor ecological health. Rachel Cox, a project lead at the organization, noted that authorities often treat defenders as inconveniences rather than essential contributors to climate security. With the upcoming COP30 summit set for Belém, Brazil, advocates are calling on world leaders to stop the cycle of impunity. The report emphasizes that meaningful protection for activists must become a core principle in international climate negotiations, as current policies remain insufficient to deter the persistent threat of targeted killings.
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