Colombia set to host the 16th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP 16), was the deadliest country for environmental activists in 2023. According to a report by UK-based advocacy group Global Witness, 79 environmental activists were killed in Colombia in 2023, the highest number the organization has ever recorded in any country since it began tracking such incidents in 2012.
Global Witness reported a total of 196 environmental and land activists killed globally in 2023, with Latin America accounting for 85% of these deaths. Colombia’s environmental defenders face several problems, including threats from armed groups and illegal economic activities tied to drug trafficking and extractive industries.
“The figure is chilling,” said Laura Furones, senior adviser to Global Witness’ land and environmental defenders campaign. She added that the report’s findings were likely conservative and that the actual number of killings could be higher.
President Gustavo Petro, coming to office in 2022, pledged to end the country’s decades-long armed conflict and champion environmental justice. Despite these commitments, peace processes with various armed groups—many of whom are implicated in the killings—have faltered. While Colombia achieved a notable reduction in deforestation last year, reaching a 23-year low, the country’s Environment Ministry has warned of a potential rise in deforestation rates in 2024.
In response to the Global Witness report, the Colombian government expressed dismay, calling the situation “dishonorable.” A government statement acknowledged the role of socio-ecological conflicts, exacerbated by drug trafficking and illicit economies, in fueling violence against environmentalists.
“The national government recognizes the serious situation derived from these conflicts and the reconfiguration of armed conflict,” the statement said. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the issue, though it faces mounting criticism from human rights groups.
Astrid Torres, coordinator for Somos Defensores, a Colombian human rights organization, emphasized that the problem extends beyond the current administration. “The figure is very embarrassing for us in the country,” she said, noting that state institutions, including prosecutors and local authorities, share responsibility for ensuring justice for those targeted.
The Global Witness report highlights the long-lasting impacts of violence against environmental defenders. A 2022 investigation by Reuters found that municipalities in Colombia where activists were murdered often experienced spikes in deforestation and other environmental damage, further threatening the country’s biodiversity.
Vice President Francia Márquez, a 2018 winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize for her activism, acknowledged the tragic toll the violence has taken during an event launching the COP16 agenda in Bogotá. Márquez stated that the conference would honor those who have lost their lives fighting to protect Colombia’s environment.
“It fills my heart with emotion to see this dream that was held for so many years by environmental leaders, many who are not with us today, who were sadly murdered in our country,” she said. “This global event is a tribute to those voices.”
As world leaders gather for COP16, Colombia’s government faces pressure to not only address the country’s soaring death toll of environmental defenders but also to present a coherent strategy to protect activists moving forward. Environmental groups hope the conference will serve as a platform to push for stronger protections and accountability for those targeted for their advocacy work.
