Colombia has the highest number of murders of rights defenders Image by Mateo Barriga, Amazon Frontlines.

Nemonte Nenquimo and the Waorani community at a march. The report states that almost half, exactly 48%, of the total number of murders last year targeted defenders of land rights, the environment, and Indigenous rights. Of the five countries that accounted for more than 80% of murders of human rights defenders, four are in Latin America: Colombia with 186 murders, Mexico with 45 murders, Brazil with 26 murders and Honduras with 17 murders. It is also “the most dangerous context for human rights defenders, in addition to the war between Ukraine and Russia,” she said. Latin America continues to be the region with the highest number of murders of human rights defenders, according to the organization’s interim director, Olive Moore. The report also analyzes the scope and severity of violence against human rights defenders. According to the report, 401 environmental and human rights defenders were killed in 26 countries around the world last year. The human rights organization Front Line Defenders has published its Global Analysis 2022, a report on the state of people who have dedicated their lives to defending the environment, Indigenous peoples, women and the LGBTIQ community.

The violence against rights defenders has not only included murders, but also stigmatization, prosecution and constant threats to individuals and their families, said the report.

The countries with the most cases are Colombia, Mexico, Brazil and Honduras.

Latin America is the region with the highest number of cases of recorded violence against defenders.

Almost half of the 401 murders of human rights defenders recorded in 2022 were against people involved in the defense of land and environment, according to the most recent report by the organization Front Line Defenders.

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