Global Witness: 124 land/environment defenders killed in 2025; Colombia, Brazil lead

Global Witness reports at least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed globally in 2025, with Colombia and Brazil accounting for 52% of killings. The report notes a rising trend of criminalisation and intimidation in Asia, and that over three-quarters of victims were small-scale farmers, Indigenous Peoples, or Afro-descendant peoples. This continues a documented pattern since 2012, with total deaths and disappearances reaching 2,375, highlighting persistent risks for environmental activism.