A new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders under the Aarhus Convention reveals a rising wave of threats and retaliation against environmental defenders across multiple regions. These threats are often linked to projects financed or operated by state entities or private companies. Defenders face complex risks from multiple actors, making identification of perpetrators difficult. Common challenges include shrinking civic space, barriers to exercising rights under the Convention, and large-scale projects proceeding without meaningful public participation. The report, based on regional consultations with environmental defenders, highlights the critical role of defenders, acknowledging the personal risks they faced in sharing their testimonies about the retaliation they received. Read more here.
Source: ECE
