STOCKHOLM. The 2024 Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the “Alternative Nobel Prize,” was awarded on Thursday to three human rights activists from the Palestinian territories, the Philippines, and Mozambique, alongside a pioneering research agency in the U.K. The award recognized their profound impact on both their local communities and the global stage.
Issa Amro, a Palestinian human rights activist from the occupied West Bank, was honored alongside his organization, Youth Against Settlements, for their “steadfast non-violent resistance to Israel’s illegal occupation, promoting Palestinian civic action through peaceful means.” Amro’s tireless work has focused on advocating for justice and equality under the harsh conditions of Israeli occupation.
In the Philippines, Indigenous leader Joan Carling was cited for “raising Indigenous voices in the face of the global ecological breakdown” and her continued leadership in defending the rights of Indigenous peoples, their lands, and their culture. Carling’s activism, particularly in environmental justice and Indigenous rights, has earned her recognition far beyond the Philippines.
Mozambican environmentalist Anabela Lemos, co-founder of Justiça Ambiental, was awarded for her dedication to opposing unsustainable mega-projects in Mozambique and protecting local communities from environmental degradation.
Forensic Architecture, a research agency based at the University of London, received recognition for its groundbreaking digital forensic methods that aim to ensure justice and accountability for victims of human and environmental rights violations. The organization’s innovative approach to documenting crimes has been used globally to hold perpetrators accountable.
The Stockholm-based foundation, which has awarded the Right Livelihood Award since 1980, praised the 2024 laureates for their “unwavering commitment to speaking out against forces of oppression and exploitation, while strictly adhering to non-violent methods.” The foundation selected the winners from 176 nominees across 72 countries.
Ole von Uexkull, the executive director of the foundation and nephew of the prize’s founder, Jakob von Uexkull, emphasized the significance of this year’s laureates. “The 2024 laureates demonstrate the power of non-violent resistance and truth-telling, placing decision-making into the hands of local communities.”
The prize, established to honor efforts overlooked by the Nobel Prizes, has been awarded to 198 individuals and organizations from 77 countries since its inception. Past laureates include Congolese surgeon Denis Mukwege, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, and Ukrainian human rights defender Oleksandra Matviichuk, with Mukwege and Matviichuk later receiving Nobel Peace Prizes in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
The 2024 award ceremony will take place in Stockholm on December 4. Although the prize amount was not disclosed, the foundation confirmed that the award comes with long-term support to help expand and promote the work of the laureates.
This year’s laureates serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggles for human and environmental rights and the vital role of non-violent activism in creating lasting change.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
