A/HRC/19/55 69. In some instances, these defenders have suffered raids on their homes (China, Nigeria) and have had their houses destroyed by fire (Guatemala). In the Americas region, they have often been stigmatized by campaigns against them (Guatemala) and statements made by public officials (Peru). They have also faced criminalization on charges of extortion and blackmailing (China), espionage (Angola), defamation (Cambodia), terrorism (Peru) and intent to sell drugs (Bahamas). Others have been subjected to arrest and arbitrary detention (Ecuador, India, Mexico, Nigeria). 70. Violations against these defenders are carried out at the hands of State and non-State actors. State actors have included police, local authorities and public officials who have spoken out publicly against the work of defenders (Peru). Non- State actors have included transnational companies (Cambodia), media (Guatemala), paramilitary groups (Brazil, Colombia, Mexico) and private security guards (Brazil, Ecuador). 71. Defenders working on land and environmental issues in connection with extractive industries and construction and development projects in the Americas were the subject of most of the communications (21) within the group during the reporting period. They also faced the highest risk of death as a result of their human rights activities. Seven of the 21 communications sent were related to killings, six of which were sent to the Americas. This particular group of defenders in this region also faced a wide range of other violations such as death threats, attacks, attempted killings, intimidation, harassment, as well as stigmatization and discrediting campaigns. 72. Defenders working on these issues in the Asia Pacific region were the subject of nine of the total of 34 communications sent during the period, two of which concerned killings (Philippines, Cambodia). They also faced criminalization, threats, arrest and intimidation. In the African region, three communications were sent in total, two to Nigeria and one to Angola. Defenders working for the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities 73. The mandate holder has also received and acted upon allegations of violations against defenders working on land and environmental issues as they relate to indigenous peoples and minority communities (29 communications). The activities in which they are engaged include participating in negotiations with local authorities in order to resolve land disputes (Brazil, Colombia and Guatemala) and investigating cases of land-grabbing (Bangladesh); defending the rights of indigenous communities (the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Cambodia, Guatemala, India, New Zealand, Peru) and representing indigenous communities at local and national levels (Bangladesh, Chile, Guatemala, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru and Tanzania); campaigning against forced evictions (Mexico, Colombia); participating in protests (Chile, India, Nepal); raising awareness abroad regarding violations of human rights (Papua New Guinea); campaigning for the protection of borders of their natural reserve (Brazil); and the submission of information to the United Nations human rights mechanisms (Guatemala). 74. A number of communications in relation to human rights defenders in this group concerned women defenders in Colombia, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Nepal and Peru. 75. Violations reported included threats to physical integrity in the form of killings (the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Malaysia and Mexico); attempted killings (one women defender in Mexico); physical attacks (36 women defenders in Nepal, an entire community in Brazil, five youths in Honduras, Chile, Nigeria and Papua New Guinea); and ill-treatment in detention (Bangladesh). 76. Violations against psychological integrity were also reported in the form of death threats (one women defender in Mexico and three defenders, including two women, in Peru); threats (Bangladesh, Brazil, Peru, three defenders in Nigeria, Papua New Guinea and 13