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Jailed Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson from the United States, indigenous and environmental activist Lottie Cunningham Wren from Nicaragua and Belarusian democracy activist Ales Bialiatski from the human rights organization Viasna receive the Right Livelihood Award 2020.
– This year’s awardees are united in their fight for equality, democracy, justice and freedom, says Ole von Uexkull, director of the Right Livelihood Foundation.
Nasrin Sotoudeh has defended several activists arrested in connection with protests critical of the government in Iran in 2009. She has been incarcerated several times since 2010 and was sentenced in 2019 to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes for “corruption and prostitution.”
Work with minorities
American Bryan Stevenson has dedicated his life to challenging America’s history of racism, writes Right Livelihood on its site. He has founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) which represents people sentenced to death. The work has so far led to the release or mitigation of sentences for more than 140 people wrongfully sentenced to death.
Lottie Cunningham Wren from Nicaragua works to strengthen the rights of indigenous peoples and people with roots in Africa and for better protection against armed settlers.
“By using a combination of national and international laws, Cunningham has ensured the territorial rights of the indigenous peoples of Nicaragua,” writes Right Livelihood.
Digital award ceremony
Belarusian Ales Bialiatski founded the Minsk-based human rights organization Viasna in 1996. The organization was started to support political prisoners and has documented human rights violations and helped monitor the elections.
The formal awards ceremony will take place digitally on December 3.
