88% of murders of environmental defenders in the world, in 2022, were perpetrated in Latin America and the Caribbean and, within this region, lThe countries with the most cases were Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Honduras, according to data from the LAC 2024 Earth Forum released this Monday.
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The information specified that the high number of persecutions and murders of environmental defenders and the increase in concessioned territory, without prior consultation with the communities, “responds to the advance of extractive industries”, which, on the one hand, seek clean energy, but also “undermines” the territorial rights of peasant, indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.
Colombia, the most dangerous country for the defense of the environment
In that year, our country had the highest homicide rate in the world, with 60 deaths in total. Despite the fact that Colombia ratified an important legally binding regional agreement in October 2022 that obliges the Government to prevent and investigate attacks against defenders, this figure almost doubles the number of murders recorded in 2021.
The majority of homicides recorded in 2022 (88%) occurred in Latin America. In that region, other countries with a high rate of fatal attacks in the 2023 report were Brazil, with 34 murders; Mexico, with 31; and Honduras, with 14. In the Philippines a total of 11 defenders died.
EFE
With information from the Environment – EL TIEMPO
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