In this article, Rohit David describes the increased violence against women activists and earth defenders – perpetrated by both state and nonstate actors – in 2017. As women continue to speak up against major polluters who are responsible for destroying their lands, forests, waters, and food sovereignty, they face great risks of harassment, threats, intimidation, sexual assault, and assassination. At the 2017 United Nations environment assembly in Nairobi, women’s rights organizations held a tribute ceremony to highlight the important role of women human rights defenders in securing a safe, ecologically intact, pollution-free future at the local and international levels. The women who spoke at this event aimed to raise awareness of the work that women are doing in their communities to protect the environment and the dangers they face in doing so.
