STOCKHOLM — The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) is among the recipients of the 2026 Right Livelihood Award, also known as the “Alternative Nobel Prize”, for building and protecting democracy in Georgia. As an increasingly autocratic government chokes civil society, GYLA remains a beacon of justice and human rights.
GYLA will hold an online press conference today, September 30, at 10:00 CEST (08:00 GMT) Register now.
For over 45 years, the Right Livelihood Award has honoured and supported courageous people leading the way to a just, peaceful and sustainable world for all. To date, 207 Laureates from 82 countries have received the Award, including Ukrainian human rights defender Oleksandra Matviichuk, Congolese gynaecologist and women’s rights advocate Dr Denis Mukwege and American public interest lawyer Bryan Stevenson.
GYLA is Georgia’s oldest and most prominent human rights organisation, founded in 1994, after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. Since then, the organisation has played a crucial role in the country’s democratisation. With a recent government crackdown on civil society organisations, GYLA remains among the last NGOs operating in the country.
Before Georgia’s democratic backsliding in recent years, GYLA’s work ranged from providing grassroots legal aid to working at the national and international levels to uphold human rights. With the recent “foreign agents” laws targeting organisations receiving funding from abroad, GYLA has had to scale down its operations, focusing on documenting human rights violations and pursuing strategic litigation.
Right Livelihood’s jury said that GYLA was receiving the Award “for building and safeguarding Georgian democracy and sustaining civic power in the face of an autocratic crackdown.”
Tamar Oniani, GYLA’s Chairperson, says:
“Human rights defenders are under constant attack, not only in Georgia but worldwide. As lawyers, we love to put the responsibility of human rights protection on the government. But the responsibility to protect human rights also rests with all of mankind. That is what Georgia’s case reflects.”
She adds, “This Award is the acknowledgement of GYLA’s role in building a democratic country, and a recognition of what we have done for vulnerable communities in Georgia to help them have access to justice.”
Ole von Uexkull, Right Livelihood’s Executive Director, says:
“In a country where the space for dissent keeps shrinking, GYLA has never stopped showing up: in courtrooms, in villages, in the lives of people who had nowhere else to turn. This Award recognises what Georgians already know: GYLA is Georgian democracy’s backbone.”
The other 2026 Right Livelihood Laureates are:
- Jalila Haider (Online press conference: 14:00 CEST/12:00 GMT)
- Rural Women’s Assembly (Online press conference: 11:00 CEST/09:00 GMT)
- Timnit Gebru (Online press conference: 18:00 CEST/16:00 GMT)
Register for the press conferences here.
The 2026 Laureates will be honoured during a televised Award Presentation in Stockholm on December 1.
Nominations are now also open for next year’s Award!
Find more information about the 2026 Laureates.
Download photos and videos of the new Laureates.
Media contacts
International media: Emoke Bebiak, emoke.bebiak@rightlivelihood.org, +41 78 333 84 84 and Sydney Söderqvist, sydney.soderqvist@rightlivelihood.org, +46 73 043 1301
German media: Julia Naumann and Nina Tesenfitz, presse@rightlivelihood.org, +49 170 5763 663
Spanish media: Nayla Azzinnari, nayla@rightlivelihood.org, +54 9 11 5460 9860
Scandinavian media: Vanessa Marko, vanessa.marko@arenaopinion.se, +46 76 321 6637
Photos, videos: Max-Michel Kolijn, maxmichel.kolijn@rightlivelihood.org
Short biography
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) is Georgia’s oldest and most prominent human rights organisation, founded in 1994 by volunteer lawyers who helped draft the country’s first post-independence constitution. In the decades since, the organisation has played a crucial role in the country’s democratisation, earning the recognition as the moral compass of Georgian society.
GYLA’s work ranges from providing grassroots legal aid to working at the national and international levels to uphold human rights. It has secured landmark legal victories that reshaped national policy, from ensuring rights for people with disabilities to guaranteeing free education to every child in Georgia and compelling compensation for Soviet-era repression. It has provided 1.5 million free legal aid consultations – in a country with 3.7 million inhabitants – and served as the backbone of the country’s civil society.
Despite facing severe repression under Georgia’s new “foreign agents” laws, GYLA has chosen to remain in the country. It continues with a scaled-down team, focusing on the most pressing human rights work. With courage and determination, the organisation presses on for a better future for all Georgians.
Biographical information
Headquarters: Tbilisi, Georgia
Founded in: 1994
Website: www.gyla.ge
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gyla.ge/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GYLA.ge
About Right Livelihood
For over 45 years, Right Livelihood has honoured and supported courageous people solving global problems. Housed under the umbrella of a foundation, Right Livelihood is a courage-powered community for social change committed to peace, justice and sustainability for all.
Each year, Right Livelihood highlights change-makers through an Award. To date, 207 Laureates from 82 countries have received the distinction. By recognising the actions of brave visionaries and building impactful connections around the world, Right Livelihood boosts urgent and long-term social change.
The Award was founded in 1980 following the Nobel Foundation’s rejection of a proposal to create two new prizes to honour individuals committed to advancing social justice and environmental causes, especially highlighting change-makers from the Global South.
Today, the work of Right Livelihood goes beyond presenting the Award: the Foundation provides Laureates with long-term support. Right Livelihood is a megaphone and a shield: raising their profile, providing protection when their lives and liberty are in danger, and educating people on their innovative solutions.
Right Livelihood is headquartered in Stockholm, with an office in Geneva. The Foundation has Consultative Status with the UN.
