Over the past year, Colombia and Brazil have become the center of 52% of registered murders of environmental defenders worldwide, with 39 victims in Colombia and 26 in Brazil.
A significant portion of the murders in Brazil is linked to land disputes, which is a long-standing source of tension between large landowners and indigenous communities.
Carlos Lima from the Land Pastoral Commission told France-Presse that 'you can kill people because you are sure you will get away with it; it's almost a license to kill.' He added that 'usually the person who orders the killing does not serve time or get arrested.'
For the fourth consecutive year, Colombia has been recognized as the most dangerous country in the world for eco-activists, which is also subjected to pressure and threats from armed groups involved in illegal mining.
In Latin America, a region where the highest number of deaths among nature defenders is observed, the majority of victims are indigenous people (36%) and farmers (40%). The report emphasizes that the risk is particularly high in remote areas where state presence is limited.
In total, 124 murders of eco-activists were registered worldwide over the last year. Honduras and the Philippines rank third on the list, with 12 victims each, followed by Mexico with 10 victims.
Since the Global Witness began counting in 2012, the number of environmental defenders killed or missing worldwide has reached 2375 people.