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Right Livelihood Award

The Right Livelihood Award, also known as the Alternative Nobel, is awarded annually to honor and support courageous people solving global problems.

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All Content on this topic

This undated photograph, released by Right Livelihood, shows members of the Cambodian environmental activist group Mother Nature Cambodia in action.

Cambodia bars Right Livelihood winners from travel to awards

A court in Cambodia denied three environmentalists permission to make the trip to receive the "Alternative Nobel Prize."
Human RightsOctober 4, 2023
Migrant rescue at sea

'Alternative Nobel' goes to SOS Mediterranee

One of the winners of the 2023 Right Livelihood Award is the SOS Mediterranee maritime rescue organization.
MigrationSeptember 28, 202301:55 min
A rescue worker helps a child from a group of mainly Syrian migrants during a mission

SOS Mediterranee wins 'Alternative Nobel Prize'

The aid group has won the Right Livelihood Award for its life-saving work with migrants on the Mediterranean Sea.
MigrationSeptember 28, 2023
Mother Nature Cambodia

Lifesavers and environmentalists win Right Livelihood awards

The "Alternative Nobel Prize" has this year honored work that includes providing safer abortion access in Africa.
Human RightsSeptember 28, 2023
A photo depicting the Right Livelihood Award Ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden on November 30, 2022.

African, Ukrainian activists receive Right Livelihood Awards

Human rights activists and organizations were honored for their role in promoting peace and justice.
Human RightsNovember 30, 2022
Ilwad Elman (L) and her mother Fartuun Adan

African duo in Sweden for Right Livelihood ceremony

Fartuun Adan and her daughter Ilwad Elman have been honored for their fight for human rights despite facing dangers.
Human RightsNovember 30, 2022
Tsitsi Dangarembga

AfricaLink on Air — 29 September 2022

Zimbabwe writer Tsitsi Dangarembga found guilty+++Africans win "Alternative Nobel"
PoliticsSeptember 29, 202229:59 min
Right Livelihood | 2021 Laureate Marthe Wandou

Wandou: Cameroon needs to move from policies to action

The international community should focus more on Africa's children's situation, says the 2021 Right Livelihood Laureate.
Human RightsDecember 1, 2021
external

Video: Freda Huson speaks to DW

SocietySeptember 29, 202102:17 min
Marthe Wandou Preisträgerin 2021 des Right Livelihood Award

AfricaLink on Air - 29 September 2021

Cameroon’s Marthe Wandou wins 2021 Right Livelihood Award for fighting sexual violence and promoting women’s rights.
PoliticsSeptember 29, 202129:27 min
Ritwick Dutta und Rahul Choudhary, founders of the Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment

Indian Right Livelihood winner says climate, rights entwined

Delhi-based lawyer Ritwick Dutta told DW that he foresees an increase in environmental and climate action.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 29, 2021
Three men talking while another man stands nearby and a woman stands farther back

Meet the 2021 Right Livelihood Award winners

The alternative Nobel Prize goes to Marthe Wandou, Vladimir Sliwjak, Freda Huson and LIFE.
PoliticsSeptember 29, 2021
Protester holding up sign reading: 'Hate solves nothing'

'We're still compromised by the legacy of slavery'

The US must face up to the truth about its racial history, says Right Livelihood Award laureate Bryan Stevenson.
Human RightsDecember 3, 2020
Screenshots aus der Sendung 77 Percent Show #43

Winner of 2022 Right Livelihood Award: Ilwad Elman

Somali human rights activist Ilwad Elman has won a 2022 Right Livelihood Award.
SocietyNovember 12, 202004:14 min
Portraits of winners of Right Livelihood Award 2020

2020 'Alternative Nobel Prize' winners

DW profiles this year's Right Livelihood Award winners, from the streets of Minsk to a jail cell in Tehran.
Human RightsOctober 1, 2020
Bildkombo: Preisträger des Alternativen Nobelpreises, des Right Livelihood Awards 2019

'Alternative Nobel' awarded to Greta Thunberg

The teen climate activist and three others received the Right Livelihood Award in Stockholm on Wednesday.
SocietyDecember 4, 2019
A combination photo of Greta Thunberg, Guo Juanmei, Davi Kopenawa and Aminatou Haidar

'Alternative Nobel Prize' lauds 'practical visionaries'

DW takes a closer look at the people who have inspired millions by tackling global problems.
SocietySeptember 25, 2019
Eco Africa - Regrowing whole forests out of stumps in Mali

Regrowing whole forests out of stumps in Mali

In the Sahel trees are scarce. But pruning the shoots of roots can bring back entire forests.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 6, 201905:28 min
Right Livelihood Award laureates Thelma Aldana, Tony Rinaudo, Yacouba Sawadogo and Iván Velásquez hold up a picture of the three jailed laureates from Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Al-Hamid, Waleed Abu Al-Khair and Mohammad Fahad Al-Qahtani

Jailed Saudis win Right Livelihood Award

Three Saudi activists have been honored, alongside anti-corruption campaigners, with the annual Right Livelihood Award.
SocietyNovember 24, 2018
***SPERRFRIST 24.09.2018 um 09.00 Uhr***** Right Livelihood Award Yacouba Sawadogo

Africa Link on Air - 24 September 2018

A farmer from Burkina Faso wins 2018 Alternative Nobel Prize+++Bobi Wine addresses press conference in Uganda
PoliticsSeptember 24, 201830:00 min
Right Livelihood Award laureates Abdullah al-Hamid, Mohammad Fahad al-Qahtani and Waleed Abu al-Khair (Right Livelihood Award)

Alternative Nobels go to innovative fixes for global woes

Three human rights activists, two corruption fighters, a farmer and an agricultural scientist are this year's winners.
Human RightsSeptember 24, 2018
Logo The Right Livelihood Award ***SPERRFRIST 24.09.2018 um 09.00 Uhr*****

Right Livelihood Awards announced

The Right Livelihood Award honors people offering smart solutions to global problems.
PoliticsSeptember 24, 201807:12 min
Asma Jehangir Pakistani human rights activist

Pakistani rights activist Asma Jahangir dies

The family of respected Pakistani human rights advocate Asma Jahangir has confirmed her death from cardiac arrest.
Human RightsFebruary 11, 2018
Aserbaidschan inhaftiert Regimekritikerin Khadija Ismajilowa

Azerbaijan urged to lift journalist's travel ban

Right Livelihood Award organizers are asking the EU to push Azerbaijan to allow a prize-winning journalist to travel.
PoliticsNovember 24, 2017
Colin Gonsalves

Gonsalves: India's 'Alternative Nobel Prize' winner

Indian rights lawyer Colin Gonsalves has been awarded the 2017 Right Livelihood Award for his "innovative" litigation.
Human RightsSeptember 26, 2017
Winnres of the Right Livelihood Awards

'Alternative Nobel Prize' awarded to 4 global activists

This year's recipients have fought for disability, human and health rights, and sought to expose corruption.
Human RightsSeptember 26, 2017
Logo Right Livelihood Award

'Alternative Nobel' laureates — past winners of the Right Livelihood Award

Do you remember these laureates of the Right Livelihood Award from years past?
PoliticsSeptember 26, 201710 images
Äthiopien Gewinnerin des alternativen Nobelpreises, Yetnebersh Nigussie

Nigussie receives 2017 Right Livelihood Award

The Ethiopan lawyer spoke with DW about the importance of education and fighting for the disability rights movement.
EducationSeptember 26, 2017
Stockholm Right Livelihood Award Alternativer Nobelpreis für Weißhelme

'Alternative Nobel' winners receive awards in Stockholm

Four recipients from Egypt, Syria, Russia and Turkey have been awarded the 2016 Right Livelihood Award in Stockholm.
Human RightsNovember 25, 2016
Syrien Weißhelme

A look at the 'Alternative Nobel Prize' winners

Four people and organization have been chosen for what is widely known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize."
September 22, 2016
Syrien neue Gefechte trotz Waffenruhe

'Alternative Nobel Prize' for Syria aid group, Turkish paper

Four laureates share this year's Right Livelihood Award, Egyptian feminist and Russian rights activist also honored.
September 22, 2016
Weißhelme Syrien alternativer Nobelpreis 2016 Raed Al-Saleh

Four laureates share 'alternative Nobel Prize'

Four laureates share 'alternative Nobel Prize'
September 22, 201602:00 min
Sheila Watt Cloutier Porträt

Alternative Nobel Prize awarded

Awards went to advocates of two communities threatened by climate change.
November 30, 2015
Afrikanische Saisonarbeiter in Italien

Aid workers in use in Italy

Doctors from the aid organization Emergency treat war victims, refugees and other people in need.
SocietyNovember 26, 201505:06 min
Symbol-Icon als Anklick-Button für die AfricaLink Webseite

AfricaLink on Air - 02 October 2015: 0405 UTC

Mixed reactions over Nigeria's President Buhari’s list of cabinet ministers
October 2, 2015
Portrait of Kasha Nabagesera with a rainbow flag in the background. Copyright: DW

Ugandan gay rights activist honored

Kasha Nabagesera fights for gay rights in Uganda in the face of discrimination, hatred and violence.
October 1, 2015
Logo Alternativer Nobelpreis Right Livelihood Award

'Alternative Nobels Prize' winners announced

A Swedish charity organization has released the names of the 2015 Right Livelihood Award laureates.
October 1, 2015
Basil Fernando Preisträger Alternativer Nobelpreis 2014

A life dedicated to human rights

Basil Fernando has been rewarded with this year's "alternative Nobel prize."
November 28, 2014
Asma Jahangir die Anwältin und Menschenrechtlerin aus Pakistan

A fearless activist

Pakistani activist Asma Jahangir is one of the five winners of this year's "alternative Nobel prize.
November 28, 2014
Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jahangir addresses the media during a press conference in Srinagar, India, Saturday, March 8, 2008 (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

'Alternative Nobel prize'

Pakistani activist Asma Jahangir talks to DW about the threats she faces for defending human rights.
September 25, 2014
Edward Snowden

Snowden: 'alternative Nobel Prize'

Moscow-exiled US whistleblower Edward Snowden and British Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger are to receive the Right Livelihood Award. They're among five persons awarded Sweden's "alternative Nobel prize."
September 24, 2014

Africalink on Air - 27 September 2013

Kenyan Somalis say they too are affected by the mall attack+++Cameroon gears for Monday's elections amid claims of voter fraud+++Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege wins Alternative Nobel Prize for treating rape victims.
September 27, 2013

Africalink on Air - 27 September 2013

Kenyan Somalis say they too are affected by the mall attack+++Cameroon gears for Monday's elections amid claims of voter fraud+++Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege wins Alternative Nobel Prize for treating rape victims.
September 27, 201324:59 min
Dr. Denis Mukwege adresses a conference EPA/HENRIK MONTGOMERY

Award for DRC doctor

Denis Mukwege is honored for his work to help women victims of sexual violence in DRC.
September 27, 2013
Denis Mukwege If you use materials from this server, please make sure to check the credit information and add a link to www.rightlivelihood.org.

Alternative Nobel Prizes

The 2013 winners of the Right Livelihood Awards from the US, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Palestinian territories and Switzerland have been fighting chemical weapons, human rights abuses and world hunger.
September 26, 2013

Right Livelihood Award winner Sima Samar

Sima Samar is a doctor for the poor, an educator of the marginalised and defender of the human rights of all in Afghanistan
December 15, 201207:29 min
Right Livelihood Award Logo

Alternative Nobel ceremony

Winners of an award aimed at those who work to improve the lives of others have been picking up their prizes. Among them were a female Afghan doctor and an advocate of peaceful resistance.
December 8, 2012
Sima Samar speaks during the release of the annual report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict at a press conference in Kabul Photo: SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images

Prize for Afghan 'doctor of the poor'

The physician Sima Samar receives recognition with the 2012 Alternative Nobel Prize.
September 28, 2012
Sima Samar; Photo: Dusan Vranic/AP/dapd

Alternative Nobel Prize

Sima Samar talks about her life, work and her fight for women's rights in Afghanistan.
September 27, 2012
Sima Samar (Photo:Dusan Vranic/AP/dapd)

'Alternative Nobels' awarded

Afghan doctor Sima Samar has been awarded the Rights Livelihood Award for her dedication to human rights. Other recipients of the "alternative Nobel" include scholar Gene Sharp and Britain's Campaign Against Arms Trade.
September 27, 2012