Over 2,100 murders ‘tip of a very big iceberg’ of threats to environmentalists: Researcher

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – The killings of over 2,100 land and environmental defenders over the past decade is just “the tip of a very, very big iceberg,” according to the lead author of a new report documenting violence against activists around the world.

Global Witness, an international NGO, recorded 196 murders of land and environmental activists in 2023, an increase from 177 in 2022.

That pushed the number of fatalities between 2012 and 2023 to 2,106, according to the report.

Speaking to Anadolu about the latest findings, Global Witness’ Laura Furones said 196 murders of land and environmental defenders “is a really horrible figure that should make us all really reflect.”

These figures are “painting a very, very worrying picture yet again,” she said.

“It’s not really given us any hope that things are getting any better … It’s higher than the last year, and over the period that Global Witness reported, which is between 2012 and 2023, that also brings the total figure over the 2,000-mark, which is sort of very symbolic, and speaks to the relentlessness of the attacks,” she said.

“I think what we’re also seeing is the climate crisis is accelerating, and we’re seeing the impacts of it more and more … and I think that’s how we also start to see the linkages between the climate crisis and the humanitarian crisis because they’re both actually the same thing, they go hand in hand.”

A breakdown of the data shows Latin America as the deadliest region for land and environment activists, with Colombia leading the count with 461 murders over the past decade, followed by Brazil at 401.

Other countries in the list are Philippines with 298, Mexico 203, Honduras 149, India 86, Guatemala 86, Democratic Republic of the Congo 74, Nicaragua 70, and Peru 58.

- ‘Silencing defenders’

Furones, senior advisor for Global Witness’ Land and Environmental Defenders Campaign, emphasized that attacks on the lives of activists are just part of the myriad of dangers they are facing.

“Murders are just the most brutal form of attacks. They really are the tip of a very, very big iceberg,” she said.

“We’re seeing, pretty much everywhere around the world, all other sorts of tactics … Those range from threats to harassment to criminalization, sexual violence … The list really goes on and on.”

The main aim of all this is “silencing defenders and making them stop the work,” she said.

While killings are mostly taking place in Global South countries, activists trying to peacefully protest against environmental destruction are also under attack and being criminalized in the Global North, Furones added.

“It’s particularly interesting and worrying to see the … increasing nature of criminalization charges all around the world,” she said.

“There are new laws in the US and the EU. There’s legislation being thrown at defenders turning them into criminals,” she said.

Peaceful demonstrators are being treated as criminals and “we’ve seen gagging laws in the EU that aim to silence defenders,” she added.

In some Asian countries, she pointed, even tax laws are being used to target and criminalize environmental activists.

Furones stressed the need for countries to step up, offer more protection, and ensure that the perpetrators are held to account.

“One very serious challenge defenders face around the world is that they’re confronted with impunity. It’s very rare that we see any cases resolved and leading to any sort of criminal charges against the murderer,” she said.

“What we really would like states to do is to make murders stop. That starts with preventive measures. It’s everything to do with preventing those attacks happening in the first place.”

This can be achieved by ensuring a safe environment for defenders and making sure that freedom of expression and media freedom are protected, she said.

“That’s not happening in so many contexts. Civic space is very, very compromised, and as a result, attacks are on the rise,” warned Furones.