Our chapter has learned that Jalila Haider, visiting Fulbright student to Wake Forest University, has been selected as a Right Livelihood Laureate. Congratulations to Jalila!
According to a press release announcing the 2026 award, Right Livelihood “is a courage-powered community for social change committed to peace, justice and sustainability for all.” The organization has “for over 45 years…honoured and supported courageous people solving global problems”; in total “207 Laureates from 82 countries have received the distinction.” Right Livelihood notes its award is “also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize.” You can learn more about Right Livelihood and the 2026 award at https://rightlivelihood.org/news/2026-laureates-challenge-autocracy-patriarchy-and-ai-bias/.
In its profile of Jalila, Right Livelihood notes she was selected as a Laureate “for breaking barriers, as the first female lawyer from her Hazara community, to challenge ethnic, state and patriarchal persecution, guided by the conviction that no human being is illegal.” Their commendation states that “by combining legal work with street activism and community empowerment, Haider has secured justice for thousands targeted or ignored by those in power, specifically ethnic, gender and religious minorities, as well as refugees.” Her in-depth profile is available at https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/jalila-haider/.