This past March 3 marked the ninth anniversary of the assassination of Berta Cáceres, one of Latin America's most courageous human rights defenders. Her life, defined by a relentless defence of justice, continues to serve as a beacon of resistance against the violence faced by environmental defenders. Talking about Berta today is more urgent than ever, as Latin America continues to be the most dangerous region for environmental activists and indigenous rights defenders. In this context, Berta's story is not only about the struggle for nature conservation but also about the dignity of the people who have long cared for it.
Vanished without a trace: The Crisis of Forced Disappearances in Ecuador
Ecuador is facing an unprecedented security crisis, reflected not only in the rise of homicides and acts of violence but also in the alarming increase of missing persons. Only in 2023, 6,874 disappearances were reported in the country, of which 394 ended with the discovery of the victims' lifeless bodies. By the end of 2024, 828 cases remained under investigation, nearly 100 more than the previous year, according to the Ministry of the Interior's database.