Swedish rights prize honours Pakistani human rights lawyer Jalila Haider

On Wednesday, the Right Livelihood Foundation awarded the prestigious Right Livelihood prize, often referred to as the "alternative Nobel," to Pakistani human rights lawyer Jalila Haider. The foundation recognized Haider for her tireless efforts to break barriers and challenge ethnic, state, and patriarchal persecution, driven by her conviction that "no human being is illegal."

In 2018, Haider led a seven-day hunger strike against the targeted killing of Hazaras, which resulted in direct negotiations between the army chief and Hazara women, leading to a decrease in attacks against the community. She has also combined her legal work with street activism and community empowerment, securing justice for thousands of targeted or ignored individuals, particularly ethnic, gender, and religious minorities, as well as refugees.

Haider's law firm has helped restore freedom of movement for over 600 political activists and human rights defenders. She founded the Women’s Democratic Front and led the first Women’s March in Balochistan, sparking discussions on feminism in the deeply patriarchal region. Through her organization, 'We the Humans,' Haider has helped over 400 widows of terrorism victims gain financial independence.

Despite facing detention, cyber-harassment, and death threats, Haider continues her work towards a world where "no human being is illegal." Established in 1980, the Right Livelihood Award was created by Swedish-German stamp collector Jakob von Uexkull to recognize achievements in environmental protection and international development, fields which the Nobel Prizes do not address.