Environmental Defenders Under Attack

Advocates challenging environmental and human rights abuses often face threats, intimidation, and harassment. According to Global Witness, at least 207 land and environmental defenders were killed last year, making 2017 the deadliest year on record for environmental advocates.
Facing these growing risks, ELAW works to keep our partners safe by training them in physical and digital security measures; petitioning domestic, regional, and international human rights mechanisms; collaborating with them to identify and reduce risks; helping them build strong, robust organizations; and more.
ELAW’s work protecting our partners was featured in The Relevator:
Protecting these people, however, is not always easy. “Because each environmental advocate works in a unique situation, threats against them must be handled on a case-by-case basis,” says Johnson. “What helps in one case might do harm in another.” He says ELAW coordinates with local partners to help people “reduce their risks and make themselves less attractive targets.”
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