Record Number of Land and Environmental Defenders Killed in 2015

A recent report by Global Witness has revealed that more than three people were killed every week in 2015 trying to protect their land, water, and forests through peaceful actions. Mining was the industry most linked with the killings and the 2015 death toll was 70% higher than the previous year.   Indigenous people were the worst hit owing to their geographical isolation and weak land rights. The report asks why this is happening and calls for urgent, meaningful action to end the increasing violence. The report, entitled “On Dangerous Ground” can be accessed via: https://www.globalwitness.org/documents/18482/On_Dangerous_Ground.pdf