For the first time ever, a Ukrainian is being praised.

Oleksandra Matviitjuk and her organization Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) are awarded the prize for their work in building sustainable democratic institutions in Ukraine and for documenting war crimes and human rights violations.

Oleksandra Matviitjuk and the organization CCL will be one of the winners for the work on building sustainable democratic institutions and for the documentation of war crimes.

Photo: Right Livelihood

Matviitjuk and CCL have long advocated that Ukraine should join the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has again become relevant in connection with Russia's war against Ukraine.

Ilwad Elman and his mother are winners for, among other things, their supportive work with women and children in Somalia.

Here she teaches young people in Mogadishu.

Photo: Elman Peace

Fartuun Adan from Elman Peace was awarded the "International Women of Courage Award" in Washington in 2013. Here with then First lady Michelle Obama.

Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Rehabilitating child soldiers

Somali mother and daughter Fartuun Adan and Ilwad Elman are praised for their work for peace, demilitarization and human rights.

This in a country where threats such as terrorism and gender-based violence are constantly present.

Through their organization Elman Peace, they work to support survivors of gender-based violence, disarm and rehabilitate former child soldiers, and equip women and young people with vocational and leadership skills.

The fourth award winner is AFIEGO, which receives an award for climate justice and support for local communities.

CEO Dickens Kamugisha is interviewed "out in the field" in Uganda.

Photo: AFIEGO

In Uganda, it is the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) that is praised for its work for climate justice.

The organization provides support to local communities whose rights are violated by environmentally harmful projects linked to the extraction of oil and gas.

The organization Cecosesola receives an award for its work with cooperative networks, such as a health center in Venezuela.

Photo: Cecosesola

The Cecosesola network in Venezuela, which produces and provides products and services at affordable prices, is this year's fourth prize winner.

"The person at the center"

Common to all prize winners is that they challenge the established system, according to Right Livelihood's CEO Ole von Uexkull.

- In a reality with a lack of leadership and lost control - including war, terrorism, large-scale energy extraction industry, massive refugee flows and economic crises - they have established new systems with people at the center, he says in a press release.