A/HRC/45/34/Add.3 When indigenous peoples’ ways of life, practices and traditions are deemed inappropriate or incompatible with economic policies, development goals or conservation objectives, forced evictions occur. Indigenous communities that object or protest are repressed and subjected to restrictions on their freedom of association and expression, arbitrary detention, criminalization, threats and intimidation. In the worst instances, indigenous human rights defenders are the victims of extrajudicial executions, torture and sexual violence. Forced evictions disproportionately affect women, children and elderly persons. 57. Participants in the regional consultation emphasized the need for a more in-depth analysis of the situation faced by indigenous human rights defenders in the region and for opportunities to exchange experiences in order to strategize on how to address these concerns. In the absence of an effective regional human rights system in Asia, independent national human rights institutions and international human rights mechanisms are vital allies. 58. In 2018, the Special Rapporteur dedicated her thematic report to the Human Rights Council to a global analysis of attacks against and the criminalization of indigenous human rights defenders and identified India and the Philippines as countries among those with the highest incidence worldwide.53 Overall, the high rates of attacks against and criminalization of indigenous human rights defenders in the region are often unreported and do not reach the international community. Throughout her mandate, the Special Rapporteur has issued communications to several States regarding allegations of violations linked to the targeting of indigenous human rights defenders. This limited number of cases, however, some of which are highlighted below, provides an incomplete snapshot of the situation on the ground. 59. Indigenous female human rights defenders in particular have been targeted, including in Bangladesh,54 India55 and the Philippines.56 Indigenous environmental defenders have been victims of executions in several countries, including Myanmar57 and Thailand.58 Intensified militarization in India, 59 Indonesia 60 (especially in West Papua) and the Philippines, 61 is increasing the stigmatization and targeting of indigenous peoples. Accusations of belonging to left-wing armed opposition groups have resulted in an increase in extrajudicial executions and in the use of security legislation to prosecute indigenous leaders and community members who seek to claim their rights. 60. The Special Rapporteur sent a joint communication regarding a land dispute between an indigenous community and the Chinese sugar cane company Hengfu Sugar in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia, in September 2018.62 Subsequently, in June 2019, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction of Cambodia set up a team to measure and demarcate the land of indigenous communities, in support of their collective land title application. The land demarcation depends, however, on the resolution of the land dispute. Community members who have been particularly outspoken have expressed concern about being targeted. Between 2014 and September 2019, 15 indigenous community members and 2 staff members of non-governmental organizations were charged and put under judicial supervision in relation to this land dispute. In February 2020, Hengfu Sugar reportedly stopped operating.63 Sugar-related economic land concessions across Cambodia, including in Preah Vihear, have resulted in thousands of people being dispossessed from traditional lands of spiritual significance. 61. In February 2019, together with other special procedures, the Special Rapporteur sent a communication to the Government of the Philippines and to the Australia-based mining company OceanaGold regarding allegations that the establishment and operation of a gold and copper mine by OceanaGold had resulted in violations of the human rights of the indigenous peoples and local communities living near Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya Province, 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 A/HRC/39/17, paras. 41–42, 57–58 and 63. BDG 2/2018. IND 1/2019 and IND 1/2016. A/HRC/39/17, para. 58. MMR 2/2018. THA 4/2020 and THA 2/2019. IND 2/2017 and IND 1/2016. IDN 8/2019, IDN 6/2019, IDN 3/2019, IDN 7/2018, IDN 4/2016 and IDN 8/2015. PHL 10/2018, PHL 2/2018, PHL 16/2017, PHL 8/2017, PHL 1/2016 and PHL 5/2015. KHM 6/2018. A/HRC/45/34, para. 16. 13