Land and environmental rights defenders in danger: an overview of recent cases

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law provides an overview of cases from 2013 involving the harassment, criminalization, and killing of land and environmental rights defenders globally. It highlights the systemic risks faced by individuals opposing extractive industries, large-scale development projects, and land grabbing, noting that these defenders are often targeted by both state forces and non-state actors, including corporations.

• Land and environmental rights defenders are identified as the second most vulnerable group in terms of the risk of being killed.
• Defenders of land and environmental rights face a wide array of threats, including criminalization, arbitrary detention, violent attacks, and surveillance, often occurring within a climate of impunity. These risks are particularly acute for those representing marginalized groups, such as indigenous peoples, as well as lawyers, journalists, and NGO representatives.
• The vulnerability of these defenders is driven by accelerating global competition for land and resources, where economic growth is often based on the exploitation of natural resources for export. Mega-projects led by private multinational corporations or state-owned enterprises, often supported by governments, create tensions with local populations.
• Human rights defenders opposing large-scale development projects are frequently stigmatized by authorities, being labeled as 'anti-government' or 'enemies of the State' to justify repression and criminalization.
• The report documents numerous instances of judicial harassment and arbitrary arrests used to silence environmental activists. Examples include the 'Arctic 30' in the Russian Federation, indigenous leaders in Ecuador sentenced to 12 years for 'organized terrorism', and various activists in Burma and Cambodia.
• Violence against defenders is frequently linked to opposition to extractive industries, such as mining and palm oil. The report cites multiple killings in Colombia, Mexico, and the Philippines related to resistance against mining projects (e.g., AngloGold Ashanti in Colombia, Glencore-Xstrata-SMI in the Philippines) and agribusiness.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2013). Land and environmental rights defenders in danger: an overview of recent cases. https://www.ciel.org/Publications/Compilation_LER_HRD_Dec2013.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Land and environmental rights defenders in danger: an overview of recent cases. 2013. https://www.ciel.org/Publications/Compilation_LER_HRD_Dec2013.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Land and environmental rights defenders in danger: an overview of recent cases |date=December 2013 |url=https://www.ciel.org/Publications/Compilation_LER_HRD_Dec2013.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2013land, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Land and environmental rights defenders in danger: an overview of recent cases}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2013}, month = dec, url = {https://www.ciel.org/Publications/Compilation_LER_HRD_Dec2013.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }