Swedish Rights Award Goes to Pakistani Lawyer Jalila Haider

Swedish Rights Award Goes to Pakistani Lawyer Jalila Haider

Pakistani human rights lawyer and activist Jalila Haider has received the 2026 Right Livelihood Award in Stockholm, a Swedish honour often described as an “alternative Nobel”.

The Right Livelihood Foundation recognised Haider for her work challenging ethnic, state and patriarchal persecution and for defending vulnerable communities, guided by her stated belief that no human being is illegal.

Haider is the first female lawyer from Pakistan’s Hazara community. The foundation highlighted her legal work supporting ethnic, gender and religious minorities, refugees, political activists and human rights defenders.

In 2018, Haider led a seven-day hunger strike against targeted killings of Hazaras. The protest led to direct negotiations between Pakistan’s then army chief and Hazara women, according to the foundation.

Her organisation, We the Humans, has also supported widows of terrorism victims, while she has been involved in women’s rights activism, including efforts associated with Balochistan’s Women’s March.

The foundation said Haider has continued her work despite detention, cyber-harassment and death threats. The other 2026 laureates include AI researcher Timnit Gebru, the Rural Women’s Assembly and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association.

The 2026 laureates will be formally honoured at an award presentation in Stockholm on December 1, highlighting their work in human rights, democracy, social justice and ethical technology.