Environmental Human Rights Defenders

“The United Nations defines environmental human rights defenders as individuals and groups who, in their personal or professional capacity and in a peaceful manner, strive to protect and promote human rights relating to the environment, including water, air, land, flora and fauna“.

Global Witness released in September 2021 its annual report “Last Line of Defence: The Industries Causing the Climate Crisis and Attacks Against Land and Environmental Defenders. Just last year, 227 environmental defenders were killed, of which are indigenous people and local communities.

ARIEL supports the UN Environment Programme Defenders Policy to end acts of impunity to:

  • Denounce

    the attacks, torture, intimidation and murders of environmental defenders


  • Advocate

    with states and non-state actors, including business, for better protection of environmental rights and the people standing up for these rights.


  • Support

    the responsible management of natural resources.


  • Request

    government and companies’ accountability for the different events where environmental defenders have been affected / murdered.

Protecting Those Who Protect: Defending Environmental and Human Rights Advocates

The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous countries in Asia for advocates, with alarming rates of violence against those defending land rights, environmental justice, and human rights. In 2018 alone, the country recorded the highest number of activist killings globally, a trend that tragically worsened in 2019. This session addresses the urgent need to protect lawyers, judges, and environmental defenders facing escalating threats and violence.