Colombia was the Deadliest Country in the World for Environmental Defenders in 2025

In 2025, Colombia remained one of the deadliest countries for environmental and land defenders, according to a new report by Global Witness. The organization documented 39 killings of defenders in the South American nation, representing nearly one-third of all reported deaths worldwide. This marked a decline from the previous two years, with 142 killings in 2024 and 196 in 2023.

Global Witness's report, titled "Collective Power," highlights the dangers faced by those working to protect land rights and promote a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

Colombia's Cauca department experienced the highest number of killings in 2025, with 13 documented deaths. Many of these were Indigenous guards, bringing the total number of cases in the department since 2012 to 171, the highest among Colombian departments. The report attributes the surge in violence to Cauca's strategic location near Ecuador and its access to trafficking routes, as well as the increasing influence of Colombian armed groups and Mexican cartels.

The organization also documented three killings each in Nariño and Putumayo, both biodiversity-rich regions facing similar pressures from illegal mining, coca cultivation, and armed group activities. Global Witness called on the Colombian government to adopt and implement the Comprehensive Public Policy on Guarantees for Human Rights Defender Work, a framework proposed by civil society to prevent violence and protect environmental and human rights defenders.

Despite the organization's efforts, they acknowledge that the figures do not capture every killing or disappearance, and many other defenders' names remain missing.