"Protect the defenders of the planet, UN rights chief urges", 1 March 2022

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The world must be made a safer place for people working to protect the planet, who sometimes pay with their own lives for their activism, UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday...

Ms. Bachelet revealed how speaking out and standing up for environmental rights can come at enormous cost as activists have been killed or subjected to abuse, threats and harassment.   

At particular risk are people who speak out against deforestation, extractives, loss of cultural heritage or identity, or large scale-agribusinesses and development projects – including those intended to produce clean energy, such as mega dams

... Many environmental human rights defenders are also indigenous peoples, or members of local communities or minority groups - or those representing them...

Ms. Bachelet underlined that States have an obligation to respect and protect the rights of environmental human rights defenders, and the communities they represent. Authorities must also prevent and ensure accountability for attacks... Ms. Bachelet advised that prior to undertaking any climate project, both governments and businesses must carry out human rights risk assessments...