Announcement

2019 Laureates to be announced on 25/9!

On 25 September, we will announce the 2019 Laureates at 09:00 (CEST) at the International Press Centre at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Stockholm.

This year, we received proposals for 142 candidates from 59 countries around the world. After careful investigation and documentation by our research team, an international Jury selected the four recipients.

Here's how you can be part of the excitement:

1. Watch the press conference via livestream on rightlivelihood.org, Facebook and Twitter.

2. Spread the word about the 2019 Laureates with your network (or, you can retweet/ share the news from here).

3. Follow #RightLivelihoodAward on social media throughout the day to learn more about the new Laureates!

Interview

Sima Samar takes on new challenge as Afghanistan's human rights minister

After 17 years at the helm of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Sima Samar takes on a new challenge. The Right Livelihood Award Laureate has been appointed Afghanistan’s Special Envoy and State Minister for Human Rights and International Relations. Two months into the new position, she does not yet have staff, a budget or an office. But this is not stopping her. She’s been there before.

For her new job, Sima Samar set ambitious goals. She is determined to push the Afghan government to implement the human rights obligations it committed to when it ratified international conventions, whether it is in the realm of children’s rights, gender equality or torture. She does not plan to concentrate on individual cases. She rather pursues large-scale impact:

“The new position will be about paving the way for broader change. To be efficient you have to change the reality on the ground”, Sima Samar says.

News

Unfinished Business: International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala dismantled

After its 12-year effort to strengthen the rule of law in a country notorious for its high level of corruption and impunity, the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), had to shut down on 3 September by the order of President Jimmy Morales.

Two eminent personalities in CICIG’s drive for accountability and justice, Iván Velásquez, the Colombian head of CICIG, and Thelma Aldana, Guatemala’s Chief Prosecutor from 2014 to 2018, received the Right Livelihood Award just last year.

“CICIG’s greatest legacy is the strengthening of the Public Ministry and the system of justice in general. But most importantly, it contributed to the public awareness that nobody is above the law and that the fight against corruption and impunity is possible”, says Thelma Aldana.

"The work of CICIG should be used as a road map for the future, also in other parts of the world where corruption is poisoning society”, says Ole von Uexkull, Executive Director of the Foundation. Watch his full video message as he spoke about the closure of CICIG.

Obituaries

Stockholm Head Office

Geneva Office