These alarming numbers highlight a growing global issue that not only disproportionately affects minorities and tramples human rights but also risks ecological collapse. Activists — who play a crucial role as the first line of defense for the environment — are being brutally killed, and as the climate crisis intensifies, so will the attacks. It's up to governments to protect them and hold those responsible accountable for their crimes.
While governments certainly need to take prompt action, they first need to start by looking within: By turning a blind eye — as too often happens — governments aren't just witnesses to these horrific murders but rather are fully complicit. This goes beyond homicide in some cases, edging dangerously close to the territory of assassination and state-sanctioned violence.