Hidden Iceberg report reveals scale of non-lethal attacks against defenders
Across the world, Indigenous, land and environmental defenders are facing escalating violence - much of it unseen, under-reported, and ignored.
The latest Hidden Iceberg report, powered by new data from ALLIED - a coalition of organisations dedicated to protection Indigenous, land and environmental defenders, including the Business and Human Rights Centre - spans 75 countries. The 2023–2024 findings reveal sustained violence, escalating digital harassment, and a growing reliance on criminalisation to silence those protecting their lands and rights.
The evidence is clear: defenders are under intensified assault while state reporting remains dangerously inadequate.
This new report fills a critical gap—offering rigorous data, sharper insights and a powerful call to action for governments, NGOs, civil society, and private sector actors to step up protection when it is needed most.
The Business and Human Rights Centre previously invited the following companies to respond to allegations raised in this report. Their response can be found here:
- State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT)
- PT PLN Persero
- East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd.
- Ternium
- Ternium and ArcelorMittal
- Corredor Interoceánico del Istmo de Tehuantepec (CIIT)
The Business and Human Rights Centre invited EDF, TotalEnergies, Sumitomo Corporation, Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), The World Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank to respond with regards to allegations against the Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric dam project in Mozambique.
"The Consortium", comprising of EDF, TotalEnergies and Sumitomo Corporation responded; the response can be found below.
Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank did not respond.
The Business and Human Rights Centre invited China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC), Tullow Oil, Meren Energy (formerly Africa Oil Corp.), TotalEnergies SE, National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK), Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet, South Sudan) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to respond with regards to allegations against the LAPSSET project in Kenya; none responded.