Cauca -- a Colombia region, home to diverse communities and long-running conflict, now focal as land defenders face lethal threats amid violence connected to narco-terrorism and insurgent influence.
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.