At least 196 environmental defenders were murdered in 2023, with Indigenous people disproportionately targeted due to their opposition to mining, land grabs and extractive industries.
Katie Surma reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- More than 2,100 environmental defenders have been killed since 2012, with 196 deaths recorded in 2023 alone.
- Indigenous defenders, who represent 6% of the world’s population, accounted for 43% of the 2023 victims.
- Colombia saw the highest number of killings in 2023, with 79 deaths linked to disputes over land and resources.
Key quote:
“Families may never find justice or closure, nor feel safe enough to speak out. The truth is obscured by a system of complicity: compromised civic spaces, rampant corruption, and dysfunctional legal systems.”
— Global Witness report
Why this matters:
Environmental defenders face increasing violence for opposing industries that exploit land and natural resources. As Indigenous communities often live in biodiverse areas rich in minerals and fossil fuels, they are particularly vulnerable to attacks that go largely unpunished. Read more: UN highlights attacks on Indigenous land defenders
