Indigenous Defender Vanishes in Land Dispute | JQJO

Julia Chuñil, a 72-year-old Mapuche indigenous leader in Chile, disappeared last November while searching for livestock. Her disappearance is one of 146 killings and disappearances of land and environmental defenders globally in 2023, according to Global Witness. Chuñil, a vocal land rights activist, was living on disputed land targeted for logging. Her family continues to seek justice, facing threats and intimidation. Global Witness highlights the disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities and calls for government action to end impunity and protect defenders.