Environmental defenders continue to face violence worldwide, with Latin America identified as the most dangerous region, according to Global Witness. The group reported at least 124 deaths globally in 2025, as communities from Peru to the Philippines oppose threats from activities like mining and drug trafficking.
Since 2012, over 2,375 individuals have been killed for defending their land and rights. In Kasibu, Philippines, residents have erected a bamboo barrier to block trucks heading to a proposed mining site. In August, confrontations with police, aided by soldiers, resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals, all of whom have since been released. Local campaigner Leijin Dugay reported that more than 30 legal cases have been initiated against community members. “It is painful to see that instead of upholding peace and order, the police are siding with the big mining operations that are destroying our community,” she said.
Global Witness found that environmental defenders are often ordinary people protecting their homes, rather than only activists. “They are defending their everyday lives,” said UN special rapporteur Michel Forst. Although the number of documented deaths in 2025 fell from previous years, experts warn that this decline may not reflect an improved situation due to underreporting and increased repression of civil society.
Latin America accounted for 85% of the killings, with Colombia leading at 39 deaths for the fourth consecutive year. Brazil reported 26 deaths, mainly in the states of Rondonia and Para, linked to conflicts in land and extractive industries. Other regions, including Honduras and the Philippines, also experienced significant fatalities amid struggles for land rights.
Land disputes contributed to half of the documented deaths, indicating authorities’ failures to properly resolve land claims. Global Witness highlighted the threat posed by extractive industries and criminal groups, which can exploit weak oversight for access to community land.
In Nigeria’s Cross River State, the Ekuri community has defended their rainforest from illegal logging while facing intimidation and arrests. In the Peruvian Amazon, 35 indigenous leaders have been killed since 2020, primarily due to criminal networks attempting to replace forests with coca cultivation.
Despite the risks, communities like the Kakataibo in Peru are mobilising for their rights, forming Indigenous Guards to patrol against threats. In Kasibu, where a mining project poses risks to water and land, many residents oppose the initiative, although some are drawn in by promises of quick financial gain.
Forst emphasised the need for companies to ensure they mitigate human rights risks related to their operations. Meanwhile, in Kasibu, the struggle continues, with Dugay ready to fight for their rights, stating, “I’m prepared to give my life to protect our rights for the sake of future generations.”
