At least 358 human rights defenders from 28 different countries were killed in 2025 in an attempt to silence them and put an end to their work. The Human Rights Defenders Memorial pays tribute to all of them:
Afghanistan
Hamza Ulfat
Bangladesh
Md Asaduzzaman Tuhin
Bolivia
Francisco Marupa
Brazil
Alessandro Santos Santana
Alex Santos Santana
Danielly Rocha
Ednaldo Palheta da Cunha, “Naldo Bucheiro”
Elias Camilo Lima, “Elias Topógrafo”
Everton Lopes Rodrigues
Francisco do Nascimento de Melo, “Cafu”
Gideone Sinfrônio de Menezes Filho, “Sapato”
Gil do Monteiro dos Santos
Gleison Barbosa de Carvalho, “Guegué”
Itarauí Santana de Souza
João Celestino Lima Filho
José Jacó Cosotle, “Jacozinho”
Josenir Vieira de Oliveira, “Caseiro”
Marcelo Ortiz, “Ku’i”
Paulo Maciel Gonçalves dos Reis
Raimundo Nonato de Souza Gomes
Robson dos Santos Guedes, “Bob”
Ronilson de Jesus Santos, “Cara Cortada”
Valdir do Nascimento de Jesus, “Valdirzão”
Vicente Fernandes Kaiowá Vilhalva
Vítor Braga Braz
Colombia
Aida Damaris Flor Camayo
Alan Josué Valencia Cuervo
Alba Rubiela Guerrero Angulo
Alberto Quitumbo Yatacue
Álvaro Roncancio Aguirre
Amilcar Mambuscay Tintinaguo
Ana Elsy Arteaga Camilo
Andrés Felipe Giraldo Velásquez
Ángel Arbey Vallejo Rosas
Angie Leandra Henao Zambrano
Arbey Morales Hernández
Astrid Viviana Ordoñez Arcos
Carlos Valero Renoga
Carmelo Guerrero Reyes
Cayetano Pedroza Molina
Célimo Chilivico Hurtado Bulgara
Cristian Arnovio Valencia Mina
Cristian Fernando Guanga
Cruz Evelio Bautista Pérez
Cruz Magnolia Sánchez
Daniel Esteban Raigoza Castañeda
Daniel Mauricio Trujillo Gutiérrez
Daniel Niño Niño
Darli Lucía Arcia Anaya
Darwin Meneses Pedroza
Diandra Natalia Zamora Henao
Diego Alejandro Manzano Torres
Diego Alexander Herrera Carranza
Diego Fernando Ruiz Soto
Duván Armando Lizcano Sánchez
Dyanis Valderrama Tuberquia
Edgar Iván Velasco
Edgar Tumiñá Gembuel
Edilsa Licona Mercado
Eduardo Campo Chá
Eider Mauricio Alegría Silva
Elizabeth Mojica Nieves
Erik Anderson Menza Paví
Ernesto Esaú Muñoz Casamachín
Esther Julia Camayo
Eucario Callejas
Ferley Perdomo Molina
Fernanda Domicó
Ferney Elago Caviche
Florilba Ramos Morano
Francisco Aquiles Vallejos López
Freddy Ballesteros Ovallos
German Roso Aristizabal
Geyrungumu (Jesús Yerú) Torres Márquez
Gilberto Ramírez
Glover Arley Hernández Benavides
Guillermo Arturo Galviz Plazas
Guillermo Velasco
Héctor Hugo González Epieyú
Hemerson Reinel Pérez
Hermes Ricardo Wilchez
Hernán Amaya Velásquez
Isaid Gómez Valero
Ismael Borray Marín
Israel Cifuentes Guerrero
Iván Darío Issa Nigrinis
Jacinto Chocué
Jaime Alonso Gallego Gómez
Jaime Becerra Castilla
Jaime Enrique Benítez
Jaime Esteban Rendón Rincón
Jairo Alberto Díaz Salazar
James Albeiro Caicedo Lucumí
James Tomás Guanga Quelal
Javier Alejandro Valencia
Jenni Paola Serrano
Jerónimo Martínez Ballesteros
Jesús Valero Renoga
Jhon Alberto Plaza Llano
Jhon Edwin Castrillón León
Jhon Esneider Pabón Osorio
Jhon Fredy Rico
Jhony Alexander Córdoba Calambas
John Jairo Aréiza Jaramillo
Jorge Eliecer Rangel Quintero
Jorge Enrique Cano Jaramillo
Jorge Luis Terán Castillo
José Adelmo Valencia
José Albeiro Liz Muchicón
José Díaz Castillo
José Efrén Vallejo Ruíz
José Erlery Velasco Bolaños
José Evelio Muñoz Ambito
José Francisco Romero Zamudio
José Isidro Carrillo
José Jesús Monsalve Valencia
José Miguel Mojica Conchangui
Juan Camilo Espinosa Vanegas
Juan Carlos Angarita Ruedas
Juan Carlos Rodríguez Torres
Juan David Ramírez Rodríguez
Julian Arenas
Julio Enrique Niviayo Niviayo
Lácides Castellanos
Laura Enid Guzmán Macías
Leonairo Zamir Montero Paz
Leonel Imbachí Córdoba
Libardo Guerrero Guerrero
Libardo Osorio Lozada
Lina María Puentes Vega
Lorenzo Antonio Rentería Arboleda
Lucero Velásquez
Luis Alberto Peña Camayo
Luis Alfonso Sánchez Barrera
Luis Alfonso Toro Durán
Luis Alirio Delgadillo Muñoz
Luis Aurelio Araujo Hernández
Luis Eduardo Cisneros Gómez
Luis Ernesto Sánchez Murillo
Luis Fernando Mayorga Rodríguez
Luis Fernando Ocampo Arias
Luis Fernando Sánchez Caicedo
Luz Heneida Hinestroza
Manuel Betancourt
Marco Antonio Suárez Arroyave
Marcos Yonda Toconás
Margarita Enith Gonzales Gil
María Mariela Monsalve Tobón
Martín Emilio Acevedo Quiceno
Marvin Andrés Romero
Maryuri Mayleiny Hernández
Miguel Ángel López
Miller Ojeda Muñoz
Nawar Michell Jiménez
Ned David Valencia Rodríguez
Neisair Ramos Navas
Nilson Andrés de Arco Salcedo
Niver Membache Piraza
Nixon Peñaloza Chacón
Orlando Vesga Badillo
Oscar Becerra Aguirre
Óscar Gómez Agudelo
Óscar Marino García Hernández
Pablo Flórez Narváez
Pedro María Ropero Delgado
Pedro Nel Angarita Ascanio
Rafael José Barragán Blanco
Ricardo Cardona
Ruhal Martínez Anaya
Ruviel Hurtado Gironza
Sergio Luis Blanco Quintero
Shantal Barbosa Álvarez
Sirley Vanessa López Loaiza
Teófilo González Coqui
Ubicael López Noguera
Víctor Cerquera
Walberto Quintero Medina
Willer Gallego Mazabuel
William Arnulfo Marín Amaya
William Ferney Pazú Toconás
William Leandro Hernández Mayorga
Willy David Pérez Quiróz
Wilmer Solarte Pascal
Wilmer Yair López Santander
Yeimar Gamboa Yépez
Yeison Aizama Variaza
Yilber Carnaval
Yojanes Estiven Lopera Cometa
Yuli Maribel Silva Acero
Zuleima Mosquera Beltrán
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Feza Sikitu
Nabwija Furaisha
Pierre Byamungu Katema
Ecuador
Darwin Fernando Baque
Efraín Fuerez
Jorge Humberto Jijón Montenegro
José Alberto Guamán Izama
María Chóez
Patricio Aguilar
Robinson del Pezo Cañarte
France
Pierre Alessandri
Guatemala
Abel Hernández Ramírez
Agustín Zapeta Aguilar
Arelis López
Carmen Ismael Alonzo González
Clovis Aguirre
Hanswer Adolfo Gómez Marroquín
Manuel Orellana
Marco Antonio Zuleta Quevedo, “Tono”
Misael Mata Asencio
Vidal Antonio Méndez Ramírez
Honduras
Abel Monroy
Alexis Castillo Fuentes
Arnulfo Díaz
Carlos Antonio Rivas Canales
Douglas Alexander Pereira
Héctor Otoniel Hernández Castro
Javier Antonio Hércules Salinas
José Luis Hernández Lobo
Josué Esaú Aguilar Carcamo
Juan Antonio Silva
Juan Bautista Silva
Ramón Rivas Baquedano
Suyapa Guillén
India
Jagabar Ali
Mukesh Chandrakar
Raghvendra Bajpai
Rasik Parmar
Indonesia
Vian Ruma
Iran
Hassan Saedi
Khosrow Alikordi
Somayeh Rashidi
Kenya
Albert Ojwang
Richard Raymond Otieno, “Molo President”
Salman Loa Peikine
Mexico
Abel Roberto Román Bojórquez
Aida Karina Juárez Jacobo
Ángel Sevilla
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anselmo Campuzano Martínez
Antonio Hernández Espinoza
Arnoldo Nicolás Romero
Calletano de Jesús Guerrero
Cándido Essaú Román Pérez
Cristino Castro Perea, “Tino”
Gabriel Hernández Tovar
Humberto Piza Pérez
Jesús Rafael Muñoz Gómez
José Carlos González Herrera
José Luis Lucas Quirino
Juan Pablo Alonzo Estradas
Karina Ruiz Ocampo
Katia Daniela Medina Rafael
Kristian Uriel Martínez Zavala
Leovigildo Molina Elías
Magdaleno Pérez Santes, “Maleno”
Marco Antonio Suástegui Muñoz
Marcos Aguilar Rojas
María del Carmen Morales
Mario Alberto Leal Larios
Martín Melvin García Carvajal
Miguel Ángel Beltrán Martínez
Raúl Irán Villarreal Belmont
Roberto Hernández
Ronald Paz Pedro
Rubén Cruz Sagastume
Sandra Estefana Domínguez Martínez (forcibly disappeared in 2024, killing confirmed in 2025)
Sergio Cruz Nieto
Sergio Hugo Ureiro Castañeda
Silvia Hernández Meza
Sofía Raygoza Ceballos
Teresa González Murillo
Yerli Yaritza
Nicaragua
B.A.M
Gerson Sellinton
Salvador Castillo Chang
Pakistan
Abdul Latif Baloch
Allah Daad Wahid
Ehsan Baloch
Tajmanullah
Zeeshan Zaheer
Palestine
Abdul Rahman Al-Abadla
Abdulqader Khader
Adam Abu Harbid
Ahmad Qalaja
Ahmed Abu Al-Rous
Ahmed Abu Aziz
Anas Al-Sharif
Aya Almadhoun
Ayda Khader
Basil Al-Jabour
Faten Khader
Fatima Hassouna
Hamdi Al-Najjar
Haneen Khader
Hassan Al-Dabous
Hassan Al-Qishawi
Hossam Shabat
Hussam Al-Masri
Ibrahim Zaher
Ihab Al-Halabi
Ismail Abu Hatab
Mahmoud Abu Amsha
Mahmoud Islim Al Basos
Mahmoud Wadi
Majed Salah
Mariam Abu Dagga
Marwa Musallam
Marwan Al-Sultan
Moamen Aliwa
Moaz Abu Taha
Mohammed Al Kuaifi
Mohammed Al-Khaldi
Mohammed Noufal
Mohammed Qraiqea
Mohammed Salama
Mousa Hamdan Khafaja
Nada Khader
Odeh Hathalin
Omar Al Dirawi
Saed Abu Nabhan
Sultan Khader
Yahia Barzaq
Yahya Sobeih
Peru
Andy Raúl Coquinche Vásquez
Benny Raúl Coquinche Vásquez
Denisse Ana García Solsol
Fernando Núñez Guevara
Gastón Medina Sotomayor
Hipólito Quispehuaman Conde
Isai Shuk Shawit
Jorge Antonio Otero Rentería
Luis Arturo Juárez Paz
Mitzar Castillejos Tenazoa
Raúl Celis López
Philippines
Ali Jejhon Macalintal
Rico Gonzaga Malubay
Rudolph Dela Cruz Espe
Warlita Jiménez
Saudi Arabia
Turki Al-Jasser
Somalia
Hassan Sankay Ali
South Africa
Muhsin Hendricks
Pamela Mabini
Sudan
Alzaki Adam
Khalid Al-Zubair Al-Malih, “Khalid Esti”
Taj Al-Sir Ahmed Suleiman
Yahya Hamad Fadallah
Türkiye
Hakan Tosun
Ukraine
Oleksandr Ivakhnenko
Pavlo Matviiets
Victoria Roshchyna (forcibly disappeared in 2023, killing confirmed in 2025)
Yemen
Iftehan Al-Mashahri
Zimbabwe
Watson Flexy Munyaka
The HRD Memorial data shown here represent cases of verified killings of HRDs between 1 January – 31 December 2025.
This dataset does not reflect the total numbers of killings perpetrated in 2025: there are cases that are impossible to verify and/or document due to the imposition of internet blackouts, suppression of media, targeting of documenters, self-censorship, or the total closure of civic space, particularly in countries and regions subjected to ongoing armed conflicts and genocide. These countries include Afghanistan, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
In this context, human rights documenters, both individuals and organisations, take immense risks to verify and report on killings of HRDs in areas, regions and countries affected by conflicts, genocide, mass displacement, under repressive regimes and dictatorships. They often put their own lives in danger, risking detention, torture and killings, to make sure the truth is known, justice is achieved, and the legacy of hundreds of human rights defenders killed every year is not forgotten. The HRD Memorial acknowledges and expresses its profound respect for their work.
At the time of publication, the HRD Memorial continued to research and conduct verifications on the additional killings of 119 individuals perpetrated in Bangladesh, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, Gaza (Palestine), Iran, Kenya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Philippines, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Yemen.
Led by Front Line Defenders, the HRD Memorial is a joint, global initiative by a network of human rights organisations: ACI-Participa (Honduras); Amnesty International; Comitê Brasileiro de Defensoras e Defensores de Direitos Humanos (Brazil); Comité Cerezo (Mexico); FIDH; Front Line Defenders; Global Witness; Human Rights Defenders’ Alert– India; IM-Defensoras (Mesoamerica); Karapatan (the Philippines); OMCT; El Programa Somos Defensores (Colombia); Red TDT (Mexico); and UDEFEGUA (Guatemala).
The HRD Memorial is supported by an extensive network of individual human rights defenders and organisations that thoroughly contribute to the verification of killings of HRDs and its contextual analysis in all world regions.
