“Dozens of land rights defenders from 29 countries have written to the United Nations to draw attention to the increasing violence they face from states and corporations, and calling for greater vigilance in ensuring governments comply with laws.
The letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders, indigenous rights and the right to freedom of assembly and association, came as world leaders met in the U.N. this week for the annual general assembly.
"In the current climate where repression is increasingly becoming the norm globally, environmental and land defenders, particularly those of us with indigenous backgrounds, are vulnerable," said the statement from 39 rights organisations.
"We face violence from state forces, private security groups and state-sponsored vigilante groups ... We need global action to counter the threats we face," the activists from countries including Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and the Philippines said.
Last year was the deadliest on record for activists trying to defend their homes and environment, according to watchdog groups including Front Line Defenders (FLD) and Global Witness.
More than 1,000 people in 25 countries were murdered, harassed, imprisoned or intimidated while fighting for their community's rights, according to FLD.”
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