Alternative Nobel Prizes for people and groups in Somalia, Venezuela, Uganda and Ukraine

Alternative Nobel Prizes for people and groups in Somalia, Venezuela, Uganda and Ukraine
Credit: Belga

This year's Alternative Nobel Prizes will go to people and groups from Somalia, Ukraine and Venezuela, and the African Institute of Energy Governance (AFIEGO) in Uganda, the Stockholm-based Right Livelihood Foundation, which awards the prizes annually, announced on Thursday.

Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matvichuk and her Centre for Civil Liberties (CCL) are being commended for building democratic institutions and raising awareness on war crimes.

Matvichuk said she was convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will one day stand trial for his crimes.

"That may sound very naive now, but I know History," said Matvichuk. "Many authoritarian leaders think they are untouchable, but - sooner or later - they have to answer to a court."

Another winner, the African Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) in Uganda, has been campaigning for years against polluting oil and gas extraction. It helps poorer communities to fight against expropriation and environmental pollution.

Somali human rights activists Fartuun Adan and Ilwad Elman are being honoured for promoting peace, demilitarisation and human rights in Somalia in the face of terrorism and gender-based violence.

The other laureate is the Venezuelan cooperative, Central de Cooperativas de Lara (Cecosesola), a network of community groups from poor areas that produces and provides affordable goods and services to more than 100,000 families.

Founded in 1980, the Right Livelihood Award, known as the Alternative Nobel Prize, honours and supports courageous people solving global problems. It comes with long-term support to highlight and expand laureates’ work.

The awards are given each year by the Right Livelihood Foundation just before the regular Nobel prize. They often honour people who are not in the spotlight.

Occasionally, however, there have been very prominent names among the laureates, such as the Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren in 1994, the American whistleblower Edward Snowden in 2014 and climate activist Greta Thunberg in 2019.


Copyright © 2024 The Brussels Times. All Rights Reserved.