{"id":50046451,"date":"2021-09-20T18:33:49","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T17:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.dialogochino.net\/?p=46451"},"modified":"2023-02-14T20:31:05","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T20:31:05","slug":"46451-latin-america-is-still-the-most-deadly-region-for-environmental-defenders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/justice\/46451-latin-america-is-still-the-most-deadly-region-for-environmental-defenders\/","title":{"rendered":"Latin America is still the most deadly region for environmental defenders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Threats and killings of land and environmental defenders continued in Latin America last year despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Led by Colombia and Mexico, the region again tallied the highest number of murders of any in the world, according to UK-based NGO <\/span>Global Witness’ annual report.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Globally, 227 frontline activists were killed, a year-on-year increase. Three out of four murders in 2020 were committed in Latin America and the region accounted for seven of the top ten countries with most recorded attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The quarantine led to defenders being attacked in their homes, as the killers knew where they were,” said Chris Madden, one of the authors of the report. “Defenders had their rights curtailed. They were unable to carry out protests during the pandemic while extractive activities continued as normal.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the second consecutive year, <\/span>Colombia<\/span><\/a> had the highest number of recorded attacks, with 65 activists killed in 2020. Indigenous leaders and Afro-descendant community members were targeted in a third of cases. Almost half were perpetrated against smallholder farmers, the report said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The “woeful” implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement<\/a> is largely responsible for Colombia’s high figures, the report said. Paramilitary and criminal groups have seized control of remote rural areas where there is a lack of a state presence through violence against communities.<\/p>\n

Nicaragua witnessed 12 killings, up from five in 2019, making it the most dangerous country on a per-capita basis. The number of reported attacks <\/span>in Brazil <\/span><\/a>remains high, with 20 murders recorded last year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At least 30% of recorded attacks were directly related to resource exploitation. Some 23 killings were linked to logging, with large-scale mining and agriculture, and hydroelectric plants, also generating conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Communities have more pressure on their territories and want to defend it, and that ends in violence against leaders. This is a trend that will continue as pressures for natural resources increase,\u201d said Natalia G\u00f3mez Pe\u00f1a of Earth Rights International.\u00a0 <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u201cIf we continue with this model of development there is no other outcome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Latin America\u2019s frontline land and environmental defenders<\/h2>\n

Global Witness\u2019 report is called <\/span>The Last Line of Defence<\/span><\/i> to underscore the importance of environmental defenders in the fight against the climate and biodiversity crises, said Madden. Although extractive companies often portray environmental defenders as \u2018anti-development\u2019, they are a first line of defence for natural resource preservation, he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Many countries have developed mechanisms to protect them but resources are limited. This was further exacerbated during the pandemic, with budget cuts and delays in prosecutions. We need governments to publicly highlight the importance of defenders.”<\/span><\/p>\n