For 40 years, International Rivers has worked to ensure that victories for rivers don’t disappear with the next political cycle or development proposal. Our work is grounded in a simple but urgent idea: hard-won momentum must be transformed into lasting safeguards for rivers and the communities that depend on them. In 2025, this vision came…
November 2025 – Environmental defenders are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, yet across the world they face escalating threats—from violence and criminalization to exclusion from decisions that shape their futures. In a recent report to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders said: “In their struggle to…
By Maureen Harris, Senior Advisor at International Rivers In our work around the world, International Rivers partners with people on the frontlines of ecological crisis, defending rivers, ecosystems, communities, and ways of life from destruction. For many we work with, their efforts are also a struggle for their own human rights and survival and that of…
Free-flowing rivers operate as the arteries of our planet. They connect high mountains to lush, food-generating lakes, deltas, and coasts. Free-flowing rivers help regulate natural carbon cycles and influence weather patterns. They evoke a sense of awe and provide food, freshwater, medicinal herbs, transportation, economic security, recreation, and more. Indigenous communities regard them as sacred,…
International Rivers was established in 1985 as a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization of activists experienced in fighting economically, environmentally, and socially unsound river intervention projects. Aware that destructive large-scale dam projects were planned worldwide, it opened a communication channel with river activists around the globe. From convening some of the first international gatherings of dam-affected communities…
As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we highlight the critical role of women river defenders in shaping water governance across Asia and beyond. The world stands at a critical juncture in its journey towards sustainability and climate resilience. Among the most pressing issues is water governance, a complex challenge that requires an inclusive and…
“They are afraid of us because we are not afraid.” –Berta Caceres. By Kate Fried Today marks the ninth anniversary of the tragic assassination of our friend, Berta Caceres. She was gunned down in her home after multiple threats against her life. A Lenca-Honduran environmental activist, Indigenous leader, and Goldman Prize winner, Berta is best…
2024 has been a transformative year for rivers, thanks to you—our incredible supporters, partners, and river champions. Together, we’ve advanced protections, restored ecosystems, and amplified the voices of river defenders worldwide. Your support has fueled incredible progress, and we’re excited to share the highlights in our 2024 Year in Review. As we look ahead to…
By Rin Sohsai In early October, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) sent a letter to Thailand’s Prime Minister expressing serious concerns about the plans for four more hydropower projects to be built on the mainstream of the Mekong River near the Thai-Lao territorial border— namely, the Sanakham, Pak Chom, Ban Kum and…
By Joshua Klemm, Co-Executive Director As world leaders gather this week in Washington, DC for the World Bank’s Annual Meetings, over 100 civil society organizations are raising the alarm over the World Bank’s plans to lend billions of dollars for ill-conceived and destructive megadams around the world. A letter sent to the World Bank today…
