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Global Witness report: 124 environmental defenders killed in 2025
A report by Global Witness reveals that at least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide in 2025. Latin America remains the most dangerous region, accounting for 105 of these killings, or approximately 85% of the global total.
Colombia was identified as the deadliest country for the fourth consecutive year, with 39 recorded killings. Brazil followed with 26 deaths, a figure that more than doubled from the previous year. Other notable locations included Honduras and the Philippines, which each recorded 12 killings, Mexico with 10, and Guatemala with 8.
More than half of the documented killings were linked to land conflicts, particularly in areas involving mining, logging, and agribusiness. The report notes that over three-quarters of the victims were small-scale farmers, Indigenous people, or individuals of African descent. While the overall number of documented killings has declined from previous years, Global Witness cautions that the actual figures are likely higher due to significant underreporting.
Entities
Brazil · Colombia · Global Witness · Guarani Kaiowá · Honduras · Kakataibo · Philippines · Vicente Fernandes Vilhalva
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 19 SOURCES] Colombia was the deadliest country for environmental defenders for the fourth consecutive year with 39 killings. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · courage-lounge.de · mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · +14 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] Latin America accounted for 105 of the 124 global killings, representing 85% of the total. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · courage-lounge.de · mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · +14 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] More than half of the killings were linked to land conflicts. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · courage-lounge.de · mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · +14 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] Over three quarters of the victims were small-scale farmers, Indigenous people, or people of African descent. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · courage-lounge.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.onetz.de · pbicanada.org · +14 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] Brazil recorded 26 killings, which was more than double the number from the previous year. mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · es.mongabay.com · sapo.pt · +14 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] At least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide last year. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · courage-lounge.de · mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · +14 more