"Report on regional consultations with environmental defenders" September 2025

The present document provides a summary of the regional consultations held by the Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders under the Aarhus Convention...

The consultations were held with environmental defenders and civil society organizations in different regions of the world, including Europe, Central Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific....

The consultations aimed to identify key trends, threats and good practices regarding the protection of environmental defenders....

The consultations were held in person and online, and were attended by a wide range of participants, including Indigenous defenders, youth, women defenders, and defenders from marginalized communities....

Participants shared their experiences of harassment, threats and attacks, including criminalization, smear campaigns, surveillance, and restrictions on civic space....

Many defenders reported being targeted for their participation in peaceful environmental protest and civil disobedience....

“Participants highlighted the role of law enforcement and judicial authorities in the harassment of environmental defenders, including through abusive policing, arbitrary arrests, and retaliatory prosecutions....

Concerns were raised about the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) to silence defenders...

Defenders also reported being stigmatized and delegitimized by public officials and media, and facing barriers to access to information, public participation and justice....

In some regions, defenders reported reprisals for engaging with international human rights mechanisms and environmental forums...

Participants emphasized the importance of solidarity, networks and alliances among defenders, and the role of national human rights institutions and international bodies in providing protection....

Good practices shared included legal support, emergency assistance, and advocacy campaigns...