We defend the environment, we defend human rights

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) documents violence and human rights violations against environmental defenders between November 2011 and October 2013. It argues that these attacks are a global trend driven by a neoliberal extractive model that prioritizes corporate profit over the rights of nature and people. The document details various forms of repression—including criminalization, arbitrary detention, and targeted killings—and evaluates the effectiveness of international solidarity and legal strategies in protecting defenders.

• Between November 1, 2011, and October 31, 2013, Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) documented more than 100 incidents of violence and rights violations against environmental defenders across 27 different countries.
• Environmental defenders face a wide array of risks, including physical violence, arbitrary arrests, and 'criminalisation', which involves the use of false charges and police investigations to stigmatize activists and distract them from their work.
• The report identifies a 'culture and architecture of impunity' where a lack of credible investigations and low conviction rates for crimes against defenders emboldens further abuse and silences activism.
• Women environmental rights defenders (WHRDs) are subject to specific gender-based risks, including higher rates of sexual harassment, sexual violence, and rape compared to their male counterparts.
• The 'neoliberal extractive model' is cited as the primary driver of violence, as it increases competition for natural resources and promotes large-scale development projects that often ignore the rights of local and indigenous communities.
• Voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) mechanisms, such as the UN Global Compact and the Ruggie Principles, are described as insufficient and are sometimes used by corporations to 'greenwash' their image and cover up abuses.
• Counter-terrorism policies and national security discourses are used by states to label environmental defenders as 'internal enemies' or 'terrorists', thereby justifying the restriction of civil society space and the use of police force.
• International solidarity strategies, such as 'cyber-actions', solidarity missions, and the use of Radio Mundo Real to amplify grassroots voices, have proven effective in increasing the political cost of violence and providing protection to defenders.
• FoEI advocates for the transition from voluntary corporate norms to legally binding international regulations that would compel transnational corporations to respect human rights and the rights of nature.

APA

Penchaszadeh, A. (2014). We defend the environment, we defend human rights. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/We-defend-the-environment-we-defend-human-rights.pdf

Chicago

Penchaszadeh, Analía. We defend the environment, we defend human rights. Friends of the Earth International, 2014. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/We-defend-the-environment-we-defend-human-rights.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Penchaszadeh |first1=Analía |title=We defend the environment, we defend human rights |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=June 2014 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/We-defend-the-environment-we-defend-human-rights.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{penchaszadeh2014defend, author = {Penchaszadeh, Analía}, title = {{We defend the environment, we defend human rights}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2014}, month = jun, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/We-defend-the-environment-we-defend-human-rights.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }