Daijiworld Media Network - Bogota

Bogotá, Sep 17: As many as 146 land and environmental defenders were killed or went missing across the world in 2024, with Colombia alone accounting for a third of these cases, according to advocacy group Global Witness.

The report, released on Tuesday, stated that while the global toll dropped from 196 in 2023, the decline does not reflect real improvement, as many cases remain underreported.

Latin America remained the deadliest region for defenders, with Colombia registering 48 killings last year, down from 79 the year before. The victims included farmers, Indigenous communities, journalists, lawyers and rangers, all engaged in safeguarding land and biodiversity from threats such as illegal mining, grazing and land grabs.

“Activities ranging from drug trafficking to illegal mining affect areas rich in biodiversity in Colombia,” the report noted, highlighting the risks faced by those standing against powerful criminal networks.

Guatemala ranked second with 20 killings and disappearances, followed by Mexico with 19, Brazil with 12 and the Philippines with eight.