UN: Time to protect environmental defenders

https://srdefenders.org/joint-statement-time-to-protect-environmental-defenders-and-ensure-their-safe-participation-in-international-forums-relating-to-the-environment-and-climate-change/

"Beyond the dreadful number of killings – civil society documentation points to close to 200 murders in 2023, which is almost certainly an underestimate – the obstacles that environmental defenders face in retaliation for their efforts to protect the environment range from stigmatisation and defamation campaigns, online threats, verbal and physical attacks targeting them as well as their friends and families, to unfounded administrative sanctions, restrictions of their freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and arbitrary arrests and detention. Attempts to silence environmental defenders through strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), brought against defenders by companies or state actors, are also a rapidly growing and concerning trend in many countries.

In demanding government action – and protesting against inaction – to address pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change, or where opposing large scale projects, including those meant to foster the energy transition such as mega dams, photovoltaic panels’ fields, or lithium mines, environmental defenders are exposed to grave risks. While the nature and levels of risks vary between countries and regions, on all continents they are increasing at a fast pace, and come from both State and non-State actors, including private companies. Among environmental defenders, small-scale and subsistence farmers, indigenous communities, women, youth, the elderly and working-class defenders are particularly at risk."

https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/missing-voices/