STOCKHOLM – Joan Carling, a Filipino Indigenous activist, is among the recipients of this year’s Right Livelihood Award for fighting against the systemic marginalisation and criminalisation of Indigenous communities in the Philippines and globally for over 30 years. She has mobilised Indigenous Peoples to defend their rights at the grassroots, regional and international levels.
For over 40 years, the Right Livelihood Award has honoured and supported courageous people solving global problems. To date, 198 Laureates from 77 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.
Carling is holding an online press conference today at 10:00 am CEST. Register here.
Carling’s advocacy began in the Philippines, one of the most dangerous countries for Indigenous peoples. As her activism progressed, Carling took the fight for Indigenous Rights to the regional and global stage, where she has largely focused on ensuring Indigenous Peoples are respected in the green transition.
Through her leadership, Carling has stopped unsustainable development projects in the Philippines, secured funding and international backing for Indigenous organisations across Asia, and helped shape UN policies on Indigenous women’s rights and businesses’ responsibilities to respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
Right Livelihood’s jury said that Carling was receiving the Award “for raising Indigenous voices in the face of the global ecological breakdown and her leadership in defending people, lands and culture.”
“This recognition sends a powerful message—not just to me, but to all activists—that our work is being acknowledged,” said Carling. “It encourages others to keep fighting for human rights and shows that standing up for what’s right can make a global impact.”
“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 Ole von Uexkull, Right Livelihood’s Executive Director. “She has inspired movements against exploitation and sparked powerful change. Her resilience and courage light the way for countless others.”
The other 2024 Right Livelihood Laureates are:
- Issa Amro and Youth Against Settlements (Palestine), Online press conference: 10:30 am CEST
- Anabela Lemos/ Justiça Ambiental! (Mozambique), Online press conference: 11:00 am CEST
- Forensic Architecture (UK), Online press conference: 11:30 am CEST
Register for the press conferences here.
The 2024 Laureates will be honoured during a televised Award Presentation in Stockholm on Wednesday, December 4.
Photos and videos of the new Laureates can be found here.
Media contacts
- International media: Emoke Bebiak, emoke.bebiak@rightlivelihood.org, +41 78 333 84 84 and Sydney Nelson, sydney.nelson@rightlivelihood.org, +46 73 043 13 01
- 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: Sonja Leister, sonja.leister@arenagruppen.se, +46 736-541319
- Photos, videos: Mikaela Fredrikson, mikaela.fredrikson@rightlivelihood.org
Short Biography
Joan Carling is a Filipino Indigenous activist who has been defending the rights of Indigenous Peoples for more than 30 years. Her work spans grassroots and international levels, focusing on human rights, sustainable development, climate justice and the fight against land exploitation. Since the late 1990s, Carling has led multiple Indigenous rights organisations. She continues to play a pivotal role in amplifying the voices of Indigenous Peoples across the Philippines, Asia, and globally, with a focus on combating the systemic marginalisation and criminalisation of Indigenous communities.
Carling has dedicated her life to protecting Indigenous communities, often at great personal risk. She has been unjustly arrested, labelled a terrorist, falsely accused of crimes and received threats on her life. Despite this, she continues to fight for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, helping communities defend their lands and resist exploitation by powerful corporate and state interests.
Carling’s advocacy has had a profound impact, from helping stop destructive mining projects opposed by Indigenous communities to influencing policies on Indigenous women’s rights at the United Nations. Her work in the Philippines, one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Indigenous Peoples—where activists are frequently targeted, killed and forcibly disappeared—has been especially critical. By empowering Indigenous Peoples to defend themselves against these threats, Carling has helped communities across the Philippines take an active role in defending their rights and protecting their lands.
Biographical Info
Joan Carling
Place of Birth: Baguio City, Philippines
Date of Birth: June 30, 1963
Website: https://iprights.org/
Twitter: @JoanCarling
About Right Livelihood
For over 40 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, 198 Laureates from 77 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 life-long 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.