BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – An indigenous activist from the Cordillera is one of the recipients of the 2024 Right Livelihood Award, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize.
The award, presented annually for over four decades, honors individuals and organizations for their work “for a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world for all.”
On October 3, the Right Livelihood Foundation announced its recognition of Joan Carling for her decades of defending indigenous communities in the Philippines, one of the most dangerous countries for environmental and land rights defenders.
Carling, a Kankanaey from Sagada, Mountain Province, is the first Igorot and the second Filipino to receive the prestigious award since its establishment in 1980.
Over the years, Carling expanded her advocacy to the global stage, focusing on ensuring that indigenous rights are respected, especially during the transition to green energy.
“Indigenous activist Joan Carling’s fearless stand to defend Indigenous peoples and their lands, often at great personal risk in one of the world’s most dangerous places for land defenders, is nothing short of remarkable,” said Right Livelihood executive director Ole von Uexkull.
“She has inspired movements against exploitation and sparked powerful change. Her resilience and courage light the way for countless others,” she added.
Carling will receive the award in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 4, along with other 2024 Right Livelihood laureates, including Issa Amro and Youth Against Settlements (Palestine), Anabela Lemos/Justiça Ambiental! (Mozambique), and Forensic Architecture (UK).
‘Tribute to IP resilience’
In her acceptance remarks, Carling dedicated the award to indigenous rights defenders.
“This recognition is a tribute to the resilience and strength of Indigenous Peoples around the world. It is a call for greater solidarity and action to protect our rights, our lands, and our futures,” she said.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award, and I dedicate it to the many indigenous defenders who have given their lives to this cause,” Carling added.
Carling, who if the executive director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI), was secretary general of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and also chaired the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA).
During the Rodrigo Duterte administration, she was among the leaders targeted by the Department of Justice in a terrorist proscription filed against the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, in February 2018. A Manila court dismissed the petition in September 2022.
The United Nations Environment Programme honored Carling in September 2018 with the Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to environmental protection and human rights advocacy.
Honoring collective effort
In a statement, IPRI stressed that the award is not just a personal achievement for Carling but a testament to the collective efforts of indigenous peoples worldwide, who continue to fight for justice and recognition of their rights.
“It strengthens the resolve of IPRI and our global network to continue pushing for systemic changes that address the criminalization, violence, and marginalization that Indigenous communities endure,” the organization said.
Meanwhile, the CPA congratulated its former chair and expressed pride in her achievements.
“CPA continues to take pride in the international recognition of its leaders and its work, a testament to the legitimacy of the organization and commitment to defend indigenous peoples’ rights,” the group said.
“We urge the Philippine government to similarly recognize CPA’s work in promoting indigenous peoples’ rights and protecting the environment instead of brazenly violating our rights and unjustly labeling us as ‘terrorists’,” CPA added.
The Anti-Terrorism Council designated four CPA leaders as terrorists in July last year, including its current chairperson, Windel Bolinget. This resulted in the freezing of their personal bank accounts and CPA’s funds. Both government actions have been challenged in court. – Rappler.com
