More than 100 killed: Latin America remains the most dangerous region for environmentalists
In parts of Latin America, those who defend the environment live in danger. Although the global number of murdered environmental defenders is decreasing - in Brazil, however, it has more than doubled within a year.
At least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide last year, according to Global Witness. The majority, 105, were in Latin America, with Colombia recording the highest number at 39, followed by Brazil with 26, and Honduras and the Philippines with 12 each. More than three-quarters of the victims were small-scale farmers, indigenous people, or individuals of African descent, and over a third of cases showed links to organized crime or hired assassins.
The actual number of cases is likely higher, Global Witness said, as they documented 142 deaths in 2023 and 196 in 2022.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.