Global witness created it's database of killings of defenders began in 2012 after the murder of Chut Wutty. Wutty's death highlighted the lack of documentation on how many defenders are killed because of their work. According to the data we have, Latin America tends to be the most dangerous place to be a defender, with the Philippines close behind and catching up. However, recorded deaths are just the tip of the iceberg and killings only represent a fraction of what defenders and their communities endure.

Extraction industry leads in terms of drivers of violence. While historically the ideology of “development” was used as a justification to continue destructive projects - green colonialism has replaced the narrative – arguing that the good of the planet over all relies upon the realisation of harmful projects.

Weak rule of law underpins the context in which perpetrators can commit violations with impunity.
We are seeking to understand how likely it is for death threats to defenders to be acted upon, what is the risk to defenders?

British Academy research is based on defender's own understanding of the drivers of threats.

Not1More originally came together to create spaces of international solidarity – often it is the same companies and same root causes driving the violence. Our approach is to create a space where people's needs and voices can be heard clearly. This year, the third year of our conferences for defenders, was the first year the conference was organised mainly by a defender.

Some of the people who came to the conference had the burden of living in same community as their own killers – but there was also such energy – a lot of dance and music. At each conference we are amazed by the power of international sharing. Now we are compelled to create an emergency response for the most at risk defenders.

Good solidarity is not a simple thing – it is a thing that we must revisit continually.

In her work with the Save the Sundurbans campaign, Rumana showed her solidarity by actually turning up to participate in demonstrations alongside activists. This has also meant staying with activists in at points when others might have left. In 2006, 80 000 people peacefully protested to ask the government to ban the mine. At these peaceful protests, 3 children were shot by the government gunmen. On the 6th day of protesting the government halted the mining process.

The 45 indigenous communities in Bangladesh have been cleansed to 13 surviving today. Phulbari, where the protests happened, was a peaceful town but is now hot with activism as people resist the mines proposed by a Britain-based mining company. The company has not managed to mine any coal, having been successfully resisted since 2003. Rumana is a part of the Phulbari solidarity group.

Based on her own actions explains how to embody solidarity through consistency and meaningful deeds. Solidarity is an individual thing. While an organisation may not always make the best choices towards solidarity, as an individual you choose the moments when you turn up and show you are conscientious.

Targeting defenders is an attempt to silence communities that resist. Normally communities are resisting a particular corporate or economic interest trying to gain control of territory because of resources. This set-up is part of a very well defined economic model: neoliberalism. The growth and expansion of which has led to struggles like we see in Chile and Lebanon this week.

We have to think about where are the drivers and the hubs of the neo-liberal power. UK bears a unique and historic responsibility in creating this. The biggest powers for example oil are registered in the London Stock Exchange – and exist in benign places such as pensions, banks and shops. The government lobbies in support of these corporations.

As people in this context we have to think about the role we play. How do we support the communities that corporations are oppressing. Hollow terms like "Corporate Social Responsibility" mean companies have developed well rehearsed and well funded narratives to justify their presence in places where they create suffering. Justifications include “development”, “prosperity” and jobs for underdeveloped places.

In Colombia, the government denied any systematic strategy behind the killing of 700 social leaders while communities have documented the systematic attacks planned by corporations, or smear campaigns, and finance to paramilitaries. In the meantime corporations hide behind complex structures to avoid liability and evade tax.

The UN and UK government define human rights defenders as those who need to be protected, an icon of virtue. There are many schemes and mechanisms to protect defenders, but these then to single out individuals without supporting their communities or causes. These individuals embody a community and when these individuals come to harm the state doesn't silence individuals, they silence struggles.