Why companies must act to protect forest, land and human rights defenders

By Chris Lunnon

Deforestation is often inextricably linked to human rights abuses. Clearing land to capitalise on growing demand for commodities such as palm oil and soy can result in conflicts between companies and dispossessed communities. 

For this reason, we have strengthened our annual Forest 500 assessments by adding new indicators on human rights abuses associated with deforestation, including one which assesses a company’s approach to forest, land and human rights defenders.

Across 2020 and 2021, at least 49 forest, land and human rights defenders were murdered for challenging logging and agribusiness interests. 

We expect companies to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to violence against forest, land and human rights defenders, to ensure that they are not complicit in this violence. From 2022 onwards, we are assessing whether companies adopt a zero-tolerance approach as part of the annual Forest 500 assessments.

What dangers do forest, land and human rights defenders face?

Forest, land and human rights defenders, especially those from Indigenous or Afro-descendent communities, routinely face threats of violence and assassination. 

For example, Indigenous rights activist from Rondônia, Brazil Txai Suruí has stated that her “whole community is receiving death threats for defending the forests” from illegal logging. 

A lack of oversight by local producers and those further down the supply chain can enable crimes to be committed with impunity. For instance, the majority of companies in the Forest 500 do not require their suppliers to resolve land conflicts prior to acquiring land. 

In Indonesia, forest, land and human rights defenders were threatened for challenging violations of the principle of free, prior and informed consent. The Environmental Investigation Agency reports that members of the Indigenous Kinipan community in Central Kalimantan were intimidated and criminalised for defending their land rights from palm oil companies including PT Sawit Mandiri Lestari. 

Cases like this highlight concerns that government measures are not robust enough by themselves to prevent human rights abuses. 

How should companies and financial institutions address violence against forest, land and human rights defenders?

In November 2019, human rights groups and Indigenous communities from across the world launched the Zero Tolerance Initiative’s Geneva Declaration. This called on companies and investors “to take urgent action to turn the tide of rising violence” against forest, land and human rights defenders. Guidance is available for companies and investors on the action needed. 

Forest, land and human rights defenders need companies to provide them with accessible, safe and transparent ways of raising concerns about human rights abuses in their supply chains. Companies can do this by establishing grievance mechanisms aligned with the accountability framework’s guidance and by offering  measures that protect defenders from intimidation. 

Companies should also put in place measures that remediate and prevent the recurrence of any incidents of intimidation against forest, land and human rights defenders that occur in their supply chains. 

Financial institutions can also take steps to support a zero-tolerance approach by requiring companies in their investment portfolios to take action. 

How Forest 500 recognises progress towards supply chains that are free of human rights abuses

From the outset, Forest 500 has assessed whether companies take the necessary steps to prevent human rights abuses from occurring, such as respecting the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). Over the years, we have added new indicators in line with best practice.

Implementing a zero-tolerance approach to violence against forest, land and human rights defenders is exactly the kind of decisive action companies need to take if they are to establish supply chains free of deforestation and associated human rights abuses. The adoption of a zero-tolerance approach is critical to ensuring the forest, land and human rights defenders who highlight human rights abuses are protected. 

Image: Tribal elder Binan Tukum, Amazonia 2016 / Shutterstock