The situation of environmental human rights defenders is alarming on a global scale. In 2024, at least 146 defenders were killed or disappeared, with over 80% of the cases occurring in Latin America, according to Global Witness. Colombia led this tragic statistic with 48 deaths, followed by Guatemala with 20. Additionally, killings were reported in the Philippines, Honduras, and Indonesia, highlighting the magnitude of the problem across different regions of the world.
Globally, since 2012, more than 2,100 defenders have been killed for exercising their right to protect land and the environment. Of the cases reported in 2024, approximately 10% were women.
Women defenders face differentiated and specific risks, including sexual violence, stigmatization, threats to their physical and psychological integrity, and attacks aimed at dismantling their communities and organizations. These forms of violence not only affect individual defenders but also seek to limit women’s participation in environmental protection and in local and global decision-making. It is essential to raise awareness and address these challenges.
The proposed panel aims to provide a space for dialogue and reflection on the situation of environmental human rights defenders, promoting cooperation between governments, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen their protection and recognition, with a special emphasis on protecting women defenders and highlighting initiatives such as LEAD (Global Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders).
These data underscore the urgent need to adopt public policies and legal frameworks that effectively protect women environmental defenders, recognizing and addressing the specific risks they face in their work.
Objectives
- Raise awareness of the situation of environmental human rights defenders globally, including statistics on killings, disappearances, and criminalization of their work, emphasizing the specific risks faced by women defenders.
- Highlight the importance of initiatives such as LEAD (Global Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders.
- Highlight the role of international agreements and legal frameworks, such as the Escazú Agreement, the Aarhus Convention, and other initiatives that strengthen the safety and rights of environmental defenders.
- Emphasize the importance of cooperation between governments, civil society, and the private sector, showcasing best practices for protecting defenders and strategies to reduce risks, with particular attention to women.
- Raise awareness of the need for public policies and concrete actions that ensure safe environments for environmental defenders, with a gender perspective and recognition of the role of women in environmental protection.
Moderator
Carlos de Miguel, Chief Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division, CEPAL
Speakers
- Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile (2006-2010) y (2014-2018) and Vice President of Club de Madrid
- Macaé Evaristo, Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship of Brazil.
- Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention
- Jiten Yumnam, Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur, India
- Joara Marchezini, Representative elected by the public under the Escazú agreement