Latin America Bears Burden of Global Defender Deaths

At least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide in 2025, with Latin America accounting for 85 percent of the total, according to a report released Wednesday. The data, compiled by the advocacy group Global Witness, indicates that conflicts over natural resources continue to place Indigenous communities and small-scale farmers at extreme risk. Although the global toll has decreased for the second consecutive year, the organization cautions that this does not necessarily reflect an improvement in safety for those protecting their territories.

The report documents 105 killings in Latin America last year, marking a significant concentration of violence in the region. Colombia emerged as the deadliest country for the fourth consecutive year, with 39 recorded deaths, followed by Brazil with 26. Together, these two nations accounted for more than half of all documented killings globally. The findings are part of a broader compilation tracked by Global Witness, which has recorded over 2,375 killings and disappearances since it began systematic monitoring in 2012.

Regional Trends Show Mixed Outcomes

While the aggregate number of deaths fell from 142 in 2024, the distribution of violence shifted significantly across countries. In Colombia, killings dropped from 48 to 39, and in Mexico, the figure decreased from 19 to 10. Conversely, Brazil saw its number of defender killings more than double, rising from 12 to 26. Honduras also recorded a sharp increase, with 12 deaths, double the previous year's count. This divergence suggests that while some regions may be experiencing relative stability, others are facing escalating threats as land disputes and organized crime intersect.

The report notes that killings remain significantly underreported, making the actual toll potentially higher than documented. Global Witness, which collaborates with over 30 organizations in more than 20 countries, verifies cases against media reports and judicial records. The organization emphasizes that the convergence of land disputes, organized crime, and resource competition is increasingly dangerous in regions where communities are actively protecting forests, rivers, and ancestral territories.

Indigenous Communities Face Disproportionate Risk

More than three-quarters of those killed in 2025 were Indigenous people, small-scale farmers, or Afro-descendants. The report identifies 47 victims as small-scale farmers and 44 as Indigenous individuals. Among the Indigenous victims, seven were members of community guard systems established to protect their territories. Land disputes were linked to 84 of the global killings, representing more than half of the total. Other drivers of violence included mining and extractive industries, logging, and agribusiness, which were associated with 25 deaths combined.

In Colombia, where 39 defenders were killed, nearly half were Indigenous and another 15 were small-scale farmers. Thirty-five of these deaths were linked to land conflicts. The advocacy group Somos Defensores, cited in the report, highlights that Indigenous authorities often come into conflict with armed groups seeking to control territory for illicit activities such as drug trafficking. The southwestern department of Cauca was particularly affected, with 13 killings recorded, including four members of Indigenous Guard units. Since 2012, Cauca has documented 171 defender killings, more than any other Colombian department.

Criminal Links Deepen Security Concerns

Organized crime and contract killers were suspected of involvement in more than a third of the global killings, according to Global Witness. The group describes this as a reflection of the increasing overlap between criminal activity and the exploitation of land and natural resources. In Colombia, suspected links to organized crime were identified in 17 killings, while another five were attributed to contract killers. This trend underscores the growing complexity of threats faced by environmental defenders, who are not only contending with legal disputes but also with violent criminal networks.

The case of Vicente Fernandes Vilhalva, a 36-year-old member of Brazil’s Guarani Kaiowa Indigenous people, illustrates the personal risks involved. He was shot during an armed attack on his community in Mato Grosso do Sul in November. His community has been engaged in a long-standing struggle to reclaim ancestral territory. As the report concludes, the forward-looking challenge lies in addressing the root causes of these conflicts and providing adequate protection for those standing at the front lines of environmental defense.