2017 Right Livelihood Award Laureates has received their awards

The 38th Right Livelihood Award Presentation took place 1 December in the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. Yetnebersh Nigussie (Ethiopia), Colin Gonsalves (India), Robert Bilott (USA), and Khadija Ismayilova (Azerbaijan) were acknowledged for fighting injustice across the world in a concrete and inspiring way. Regrettably, Khadija Ismayilova could only participate over Skype due to a travel ban imposed by Azerbaijani authorities.   Ole von Uexkull, Executive Director of the Right Livelihood Award, said: “With their courage and creativity, the Laureates overcome any obstacles put in place by people in power as they create real change on the ground empowering thousands and even millions of people.” The celebration continued throughout the evening with dinner, live music and acceptance speeches. Watch the 38th Award Presentation here.   Ethiopian disability rights activist, Yetnebersh Nigussie, used the occasion to draw attention to the difficulties faced by girls with disabilities accessing a quality education: “I describe myself as lucky for having made it to school, but I hope future generations of girls and women with disabilities feel differently. It is their right to be at school, and it always has been. I hope you will consider joining me in their fight to access quality inclusive education, which is your fight too”. Environmental lawyer, Robert Bilott, utilised his award to note the importance of community action: “I hope that the Right Livelihood Award helps spread awareness and recognition of the urgent need to take even further steps to protect our drinking water, and the ability and power of local residents and communities to make those changes happen – regardless of the odds.”   The human rights lawyer, Colin Gonsalves, founder of the Human Rights Law Network, said: “Public interest litigation made enormous strides consolidating collective rights and bringing tangible relief – as in the Right to Food case – to millions of people below the poverty line. That we receive the Right Livelihood Award today gives us courage to go ahead regardless of the magnitude of the challenges facing us.” Khadija Ismayilova spoke over link from Baku and stated: "I am not the only journalist in Azerbaijan who is facing a travel ban and other forms of harassment simply because I dare to criticise the government when they steal people’s money. I happily accept the award on behalf of all journalists and human rights defenders of my country, who continue to work despite difficult conditions."

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Events and high profile meetings across three countries

The Laureates have been celebrated during a week-long programme in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. Remarkably, seven parliamentary groups in the Swedish Riksdag invited the Laureates to a seminar in the Parliament’s prestigious Second Chamber (watch it here). The programme in Sweden also included a meeting with the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström. Following the award presentation in Stockholm, the Laureates visited Berlin from 3-5 December where they, among many other things, were invited to a reception with the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller. In Geneva, the Laureates met with representatives from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Conversation with the 2017 Right Livelihood Award Laureates at Maison de la Paix on 6 December concluded the programme for the Laureates except Yetnebersh Nigussie who continued to Zürich where she participated in a public lecture at the Zürich City Hall.

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”Let Khadija travel abroad”, writes 56 Laureates in anopen letter to the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan

On 30 November, 56 Right Livelihood Award Laureates from across the world protested against the travel ban imposed on Khadija Ismayilova and the lack of freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, in an open letter to the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The letter was delivered to the Azeri Embassy in Stockholm by Colin Gonsalves, Yetnebersh Nigussie and Robert Bilott who were accompanied by representatives of the Foundation as well as two TV-teams. The Azeri journalist Emin Milli, seen on the picture, represented Khadija in Stockholm and joined the Laureates to the embassy.  Watch a live interview with Colin Gonsalves about the protest here (English) Read more about the protest here (Swedish)

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The whole team at the Right Livelihood Award Foundation wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for the the year. Let’s make it a peaceful one where trust and democracy overwins fear and populism.

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