The Rise Of Organized Crime And Its Threat To Indigenous Activists In Ecuador

Ahead of COP29, nearly 200 nations gathered in Cali, Colombia, to discuss adopting the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, a bold international commitment to end the destruction of nature by 2030. During the summit, indigenous activists from Ecuador brought the dangers their communities are facing for being on the frontlines of environmental defense to light. Organized crime has significantly risen in Ecuador in recent years, and as a result, both gangs and terrorist organizations are utilizing violence to control communities and intimidate environmental defenders. Although some governments have proposed solutions that would monitor the number of activists’ deaths, there remains a critical gap in strategies that would prevent gang violence and protect these vulnerable communities.

Countries are often hesitant to address organized crime and gang violence head-on, even in the context of environmental protection, due to complex political and economic factors. Some governments face significant challenges when trying to combat powerful crime networks, some of which have deep rooted connections in local communities or alliances with more important political actors. Additionally, addressing gang violence requires an requires extensive amount of resources, long-term planning, and political will; many countries lack the resources necessary to overtly challenge perpetrators and maintain political stability at the same time.

Moreover, in countries where criminal organizations have a stronger economic influence, governments will be more reluctant to disrupt these activities due to their fears of destabilizing their own economies. For example, the rise of gang violence is in direct response to the 2023 referendum in Ecuador which approved a ban on oil drilling in the Amazon rainforest. Although the government was willing to make a blanket statement preventing the depilation of the Amazon’s natural resources, it will not put policies into place that would defend the activists physically protecting these preserved spaces. It is for this reason – even though they can acknowledge the threats environmental defenders face – that they are still reluctant to take action that might provoke these criminal actors, hinder their economic interests, or reveal the systemic weaknesses within their own institutions. This hesitation underscores the need for international support and collaboration in creating effective protections for environmental defenders, especially those in high-risk regions.

To protect environmental defenders and indigenous communities, there are several strategies that can be implemented. Establishing more enhanced legal protections for activists, alongside international oversight and accountability frameworks, would ensure that nations are held responsible for safeguarding these vulnerable groups. Increased funding from global organizations, directed specifically towards protection programs and community-based policing, could empower local governments to respond effectively to these threats. Finally, enforcing sanctions against environmental crimes and demanding corporate accountability would reduce the influence of criminal organizations profiting from resource exploitation. Implementing these measures will solidify a global commitment to safeguarding environmental defenders and establishing a foundation of security that is essential for the preservation of our planet’s biodiversity.

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