This side event gave special attention to the challenges engendered by the increasing criminalisation or repression of those peacefully denouncing the adverse human rights impacts of corporate projects, discussing the role of both States and companies.
Calling upon States and all other stakeholders to give full recognition to the legitimate role and important work carried out by land and environmental rights defenders, the event was an opportunity to explore ways to improve the security of such advocates at extreme risk, as well as to prevent and combat impunity for such attacks and violations.
Together with the environmental and human rights organisations co-sponsoring the event, FIDH published a compilation of cases providing an overview of the situation of land and environmental human rights defenders in danger in 2013.