Colombia is one of the most unequal countries in Latin America and one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders. Colombia’s economy have created a climate of systemic intimidation of social leaders, unionists and activists. Our report analaysed 58 attacks against HRDs raising concerns about business operations in Colombia during 2020-2021.

Our global analysis shows that attacks against HRDs in 2021 occurred in every region of the world and in almost every business sector, with five of the most dangerous sectors relating to natural resources. Our data reveals that those driving the just transition remain under sustained attack, targeted by government, business and other non-state actors with violence, intimidation, smear campaigns and judicial harassment. In 2021 alone, we tracked 615 attacks against HRDs, including 76 killings, and 88 cases of death threats and intimidation.

Between January 2015 - December 2021, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre recorded more than 385 cases which bear the hallmarks of Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). At least 149 of these cases took place in Latin America, which is one of the regions most affected by SLAPPs.

Institutional investors can be connected to harmful impacts on defenders through their investments in companies that cause, contribute to, or are directly linked to actions that undermine the rights of defenders. This publication provides institutional investors with practical guidance on how to prevent, mitigate, and address negative impacts on defenders in investment portfolios.

Except for the Philippines, Southeast Asian countries have no laws defining SLAPPs but all countries, except for Brunei, protect the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly in their constitutions. This Briefing Note focuses on SLAPPs in Southeast Asia and aims to amplify legal arguments and court decisions that have successfully upheld the freedoms of expression, association, and/or peaceful assembly of HRD.

Drawing on over 90 interviews, this guidance urges companies to engage and to act—carefully but deliberately—in their own interests and in the mutual interest that they share with civil society in support of civic freedoms and defenders. It sets forth both the normative responsibility, the business case and the moral choice that companies should consider, and proposes a decision framework to guide companies as they decide whether and if so how to act.