São Paulo, Brazil — For the second consecutive yr, Latin America has witnessed the very best variety of killings of environmental defenders worldwide. On September 10, the London-based NGO International Witness launched its annual report, revealing that 196 individuals had been murdered for safeguarding the atmosphere throughout the globe in 2023. Of those, 164 deaths, or 85%, occurred in Latin American nations.
Colombia leads this grim listing with 79 activists murdered — the very best ever recorded by the NGO in a single nation in a single yr. Brazil ranks second, with 25 deaths, adopted by Mexico and Honduras, every with 18 killings.
“The murdered defenders had been attempting, in numerous methods, to guard the planet and defend their elementary human rights. Every loss of life leaves the world extra susceptible to local weather crises, lack of biodiversity and elevated air pollution,” reads a bit of the International Witness report.
In 2022, International Witness recorded 177 homicides of environmental defenders. This yr, Brazil noticed a lower in killings of land defenders dropping from 34 to 25, whereas Colombia’s numbers surged dramatically, rising from 60 to 79.
International Witness has been publishing its annual report on violence in opposition to environmental defenders since 2012. The group estimates that no less than 2,106 lives have been misplaced prior to now decade, as people stood in opposition to deforestation, unlawful actions, and the unchecked exploitation of pure assets.
(Marcelo Camargo / Agencia Brasil courtesy)
Colombia, which has amassed 461 murders over these years, has solidified its place because the deadliest nation for environmental defenders. Brazil follows intently behind, with 401 killings throughout the identical interval.
In response to the report, whereas the scenario has improved underneath President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the 4 years of Amazon exploitation inspired by former President Jair Bolsonaro proceed to take a heavy toll on the area.
Learn extra: Violence against Brazil’s indigenous people increased despite Lula’s efforts to reclaim native lands
Regardless of Lula’s authorities restoring funding for forest safety and making a devoted ministry to defend Indigenous peoples, a lot of Brazil’s Congress stays aligned with conservative, pro-agribusiness pursuits, echoing Bolsonaro’s insurance policies.
“Political shifts stay a problem within the face of a conservative Congress, dominated by the agricultural foyer, which prioritizes giant landowners’ pursuits over agrarian reform,” the International Witness report acknowledged.
To curb violence in opposition to activists, the group outlined suggestions for governments and states. Key proposals embody creating protected environments the place defenders can freely perform their work with out worry of being killed.
It additionally requires legal guidelines to strengthen their safety, monitoring threats confronted by activists, and ending impunity for these accountable for murders and persecution of environmental protectors.
