The Arayara International Institute will expand the support that gives environmental activists through the Defenders Program. The activities, which have already been presented in Brasilia and São Paulo, arrive this Thursday (11) to Salvador. Through it, human rights and environmental advocates who are suffering threats receive free psychological, financial, legal and humanitarian assistance.
The program is aimed at people who work on the front line against negative impacts generated by energy projects, such as hydroelectric, wind farms, transmission lines, until the exploration of oil, gas and coal, in the territories themselves and that are suffering threats. According to the organization, the program has five central axes: training, structuring, defense, partnerships and research.
“The Defenders Program of Defenders is born to offer the necessary support so that activists can continue to fight for their rights, territories, families and lives. We want the program to transform reality and guarantee the protection of those who fight for a fairer and more environmentally responsible future. With the project, we seek to ensure physical, legal and humanitarian security of environmentalists and community leaders who face situations of vulnerability and risks in their performance,” says Arayara Technical Director Juliano Bueno.
According to Bueno, the intention is to reach all Brazilian municipalities. “We have concrete cases of threatened victims and persecution under the protection of the Arayara project, which is now coming to Bahia. Our intention is to be present in more than 5,000 Brazilian cities. It’s not just about recognizing their dedication, but of ensuring that they can continue to defend us all,” he argues.
According to a survey conducted by the Global Witness NGO, Brazil is the second most lethal country for environmentalists worldwide. In 2022, around the world, at least 177 environmental activists were killed as a result of their performance. In Brazil alone, there were 34 of these murders. Brazil was only behind Colombia, with 60 murders.
The presentation of the Defenders Program of Defenders and Training in Territorial Protection and Self Protection will be at the Legislative Assembly of Bahia (Alba), at 9am, with free access and Internet transmission.
Arayara is a non -profit civil society organization formed by scientists, urban managers, engineers, urban planners and environmentalists. In addition to Brazil, the organization operates in Portugal, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Morocco, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Panama, Canada and South Africa.
