The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has sounded the alarm over a growing global pattern of enforced disappearances targeting people who defend land, natural resources, and the environment—often in contexts marked by systemic discrimination and weak rule of law.
“This report is a wake-up call,” the experts said, warning of a “clear and present danger” to those on the front lines of environmental protection. According to the group’s new report to the Human Rights Council, these disappearances frequently occur amid violence, repression, and the climate emergency. Environmental defenders are often labelled as “anti-development,” “terrorists,” or “eco-terrorists” by states or media outlets to discredit their work, justify surveillance, and link them to terrorism investigations—tactics that significantly heighten their risk of disappearance.
The report highlights troubling evidence of collusion between states, corporations, and criminal networks, aimed at shielding profits from extractive industries, agribusiness, energy projects, and large-scale development ventures. It urges businesses and financial institutions to uphold human rights, carry out due diligence, and ensure their operations do not contribute to enforced disappearances.
“These defenders are ultimately safeguarding all ways of life on this planet, and we must protect them,” the experts stressed.
The report closes with recommendations for states, corporations, and international organisations to prevent these crimes, guarantee accountability, and provide full reparations to victims and affected communities. Findings from the report will be further discussed at a side event on 22 September 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
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