Defenders Under Threat as Global Witness Records 2025 Toll

What's happened

Global Witness reports 124 killings of land and environmental defenders in 2025, led by Colombia (39) and Brazil (26). Indigenous people and small-scale farmers bear the brunt, with a notable overlap with organised crime. The total since 2012 reaches 2,375, though the rate shows some regional variation.

What's behind the headline?

Key takeaways

• Indigenous peoples and small-scale farmers account for a large share of victims, with Indigenous guards emerging as a recurring protection mechanism.
• Land disputes and extractive industries are repeatedly linked to attacks, with organised crime playing a significant role in many cases.
• While the global tally declined from 196 in 2023 to 128 in 2025, observers caution that underreporting remains a major issue, making the true numbers uncertain.
• The data suggest a growing convergence between criminal networks and environmental conflicts, complicating protection efforts.

Context and implications

• The concentration of killings in Latin America signals a regional risk environment for communities defending forests and waters.
• The persistence of violence despite a lower headline figure implies that safeguards and international support remain crucial.
• Questions remain about policy responses, including the role of state security forces and corporate accountability in protecting defenders.

What comes next

• Expect continued scrutiny from human rights groups and possible calls for stronger protections for Indigenous guards and community-based monitoring networks.

How we got here

The report tracks killings and disappearances of defenders since 2012, highlighting that Latin America remains the deadliest region. It notes difficulties in documenting cases, especially in remote areas and conflict zones, and points to increasing criminalisation and intimidation in Asia.

Our analysis

BBC Business reports that 39 defenders were killed in Colombia in 2025, with 26 in Brazil and 12 in the Philippines, noting indigenous communities and farmers bear the brunt. All Africa summarizes Global Witness’ Collective Power, emphasizing the underreporting problem and the overlap with organized crime. The Guardian highlights narco-trafficking links and state security crackdowns as contributing factors. Independent corroborates the regional breakdown and the overall decline in killings, while stressing ongoing risks in Latin America.

Go deeper

• What measures are governments taking to protect Indigenous guards?
• How does the report describe the link between organised crime and environmental crimes?
• What regions outside Latin America pose the most risk to defenders this year?

More on these topics

• Global Witness - British NGO

  Global Witness is an international NGO which investigates environmental and human rights abuses. The organisation, which has offices in London, Washington, D.C. and Brussels, explores how diamonds and other natural resources can fund conflict or fuel corruption. It carries out investigations into the involvement of specific individuals and business entities in activities such as illegal and unsustainable forest exploitation, and corruption in oil, gas and mining industries, and campaigns for greater representation of people affected by the climate crisis in climate decision-making.

• Colombia - Country in South America

  Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a transcontinental country largely in the north of South America, with territories in North America.

• Philippines - Country in Asia

  The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under three main geographical divisions from

• Brazil - Country in South America

  Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers and with over 211 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most

• Honduras - Country in Central America

  Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of

• United Kingdom - Country in Europe

  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland.

• United States - Country in North America

  The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.

• Germany - Country in Europe

  Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.

• Mexico - Country in North America

  Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea