Defend the Defenders - The Oxygen Project

Context

Every two days, someone is killed for trying to protect our planet.

For the past 11 years, Global Witness has documented and denounced waves of threats, violence and killings of land and environmental defenders across the world.

The situation in Latin America remains particularly concerning. In 2022, the region accounted for 88% of killings – an ever-growing majority of the world’s cases. A total of 11 of the 18 countries where we documented cases in 2022 were in Latin America.

Our campaign is a resolute response to this crisis, driven by the urgent need to protect those who safeguard our planet's future.

A Decade Of Murders

1.910
Environmental defenders were killed in the last 10 years all over the world.
88%
of these murders have happened in Latin America.
36%
of defender killings in 2022 were of indigenous people.

*2022 Global Witness Report

Latin America Situation

Latin America is the most dangerous region for environmental defenders. Since Global Witness started collecting data in 2012, 1,335 defenders across Latin America have lost their lives – 70% of all deaths. Yet very few families have seen justice for these killings.

Colombia, Brazil and Mexico are the three most dangerous countries to defend the environment. In 2022, 177 were murdered by defenders of the planet.

*Deaths by Country 2022. Source: Global Witness Report

Deaths are related to territorial conflicts and businesses involving the extraction of natural resources.

MINING AGRO-INDUSTRY DRUG TRAFFICKING ENERGY INDUSTRIES

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

+ 600,000 Signatures on the PIACI Petition
In Partnership with Cuencas Sagradas, Orpio, AIDESEP, AVAAZ

Background: the PIACI, which stands for indigenous peoples residing in the remote and well-preserved regions of the Amazon, have chosen isolation as a survival strategy.

Since 2006, Peru has had a law safeguarding their rights, but recently, there have been efforts by certain political groups in Congress to pass Bill 3518/2022-CR, which aims to dilute these protections and allow the exploitation of their territories and resources.

This Bill 3518 which would strip Peru’s isolated Indigenous people of land and protections was scrapped at the end of June 2023!

Public pressure was key: the petition and a flood of letters and statements influenced advocacy meetings.

We joined the global call for digital action for the #PIACI #AisladosParaVivir

#DefendTheDefenders.

GET TO KNOW THEM

Defenders in Action

In partnership with on-the-ground activists and local NGOs, we seek to ignite change and protect the brave souls who stand as the last line of defense for our ecosystems.

The Escazú Agreement

The Escazú Agreement
and its vital importance

On April 22, 2012 - The Escazú Agreement entered into force to Latin America and the Caribbean. It is the first legal instrument that contemplates the prevention and investigation of attacks against environmental defenders.

This agreement, signed by 25 countries, seeks to guarantee the rights of access to environmental information, strengthening public participation in environmental decisions and ensuring justice in the matter with the aim of reducing the number of socio-environmental conflicts present in the countries of the region.

Learn More