Categories Africa, ICCA on the international level, Indigenous people’s rights and human rights, Newsflash, Private sector standards and safeguards, Resources

A New Resource for African Environmental Defenders

First published on 12/10/2019, and last updated on 12/19/2019

By African Environmental Defenders, an initiative led by Natural Justice, ICCA Consortium Member, and the International Land Coalition, directly extracted from African Environmental Defenders’ website.

On International Human Rights Day, Natural Justice and the International Land Coalition present African Environmental Defenders, a resource for African Land and Environmental Defenders affiliated with the ILC. This resource provides support in emergency situations.

The website can be accessed here: https://envirodefenders.africa/

This past weekend, the Guardian reported on the latest assassinations of indigenous environmental defenders; this time, two indigenous leaders were killed in a driveby shooting in Brazil. Every week the media is reporting on the deaths, harassment and intimidation of environmental defenders throughout the world and it is becoming more dangerous for those who live in and defend their territories from states and companies seeking to extract their resources.

African environmental defenders play an important role in protecting their lands and ecosystems from unsustainable industrial development, logging and extractive projects. However, the nature of their work can expose them to significant risks because of the political and monetary powers they stand up against.

Having worked with African communities for over eleven years, Natural Justice understands what is at stake and is committed to supporting African Environmental Defenders. Together with the International Land Coalition, it will administer a fund to support environmental and land defenders who find themselves in emergency situations due to the nature of their work.

The funding is currently for those who are members of the International Land Coalition only, but, hopefully, future funds may be made available to all of those who meet the criteria of African Environmental Defenders.

Visit the site to find out:

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Picture: © African Environmental Defenders.