MUST READ: Land and Environmental Defenders Report 2023/24
by Global Witness
Key Findings for ASIA
➡️ At least 196 defenders were killed around the world in 2023 – an average of one murder every other day, bringing total to 2,106 from 2012 to 2023.
➡️ The Philippines ranked as the world’s fifth-most dangerous country for land and environmental defenders in 2023, with 17 killings behind Colombia (79), Brazil (25), Mexico (18), Honduras (18).
➡️ In Asia, 468 defenders were murdered between 2012 and 2023 – 64% in the Philippines (298), with additional cases in India (86), Indonesia (20) and Thailand.
➡️ In 2023, we recorded killings in the Philippines (17), India (5) and Indonesia (3).
➡️ Seven (7) enforced disappearances in the Philippines, with the trend appearing to extend to other countries in 2023.
➡️ Multiple activists have been abducted since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in June 2022. This trend is part of authorities' tactics to intimidate people into silence.
➡️ While abductions are a common method of trying to silence environmental activists across the world, it is a lot less common for abducted activists to live to tell their stories (as Jhed and Jonila have).
We join them in demanding immediate action to #DefendTheDefenders. Their voices cannot be silenced.
Read the report: https://lnkd.in/dcSDNbrP
Vietnam Veteran, 4 tours, 1 tour NKP Thailand; U.S. Air Force Retiree and Dependent Son
3moAttacking the present or any government for the wrongs of society will incur the wrath of government. There are many ways of addressing grievances and concerns without a full frontal attack on government, and we have lost the reason to do so. Governments do not listen to its citizens when it is under attack unless the grievances are seen as widespread and Just. Whatever happened to Reason?