Jani Silva

Jani Silva is an environmental defender. She works to defend hundreds of peasants (campesinos) in the Putumayo region of Colombia. The campesinos are regularly threatened by illegal groups, the military, drug traffickers and multinational companies, all of whom dispute their territory, which is a strategic geographical position and rich in natural resources. Jani has dedicated her life to defending Colombia’s natural resources and ecosystems, as well as exposing the violations the Campesinos have experienced in Colombia for decades.

It is extremely dangerous to be an HRD in Colombia. Due to her work, Jani has received death threats to her and her family. The latest threats happened on 17 April 2020, at around 2:30pm, Jani Silva heard 6 gunshots less than 30 metres from her residence. On 22 April, she heard three-gun shots and noise from the movement of people and a motorcycle around her house. With Covid 19 movement restrictions, Jani feels particularly vulnerable.