A new report shows that environmental and Indigenous rights defenders remained among the world's most targeted human rights advocates in 2025. At least 84 environmental defenders were killed last year amid broader violence against activists.
Front Line Defenders documented at least 358 human rights defenders killed in 2025. Nearly a quarter of those deaths involved people protecting land and the environment, with cases recorded in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and other nations.
The Dublin-based group also recorded nearly 4,000 nonlethal attacks on human rights defenders across 119 countries. These included surveillance, arbitrary detention, and smear campaigns, though the true number is likely higher due to underreporting.
One documented case involved Efraín Fueres, a 46-year-old Ecuadorian community leader killed during protests against extractive policies. Videos showed him being shot and then approached by a military vehicle.
International courts have affirmed governments' duties to protect environmental defenders, citing their role in upholding human rights and addressing climate change.