European non-governmental maritime rescue organization SOS Méditerranée was awarded the Right Livelihood Award yesterday for rescue operations that saved the lives of migrants on the “world’s deadliest migration route”.

The prize is considered the “alternative Nobel” and was established by the Swedish-German philatelist Jacob von Exkull in 1980 after the foundation behind the Nobels refused to create new prizes to honor efforts in the fields of the environment and international development.

This year’s awards

The Right Livelihood Foundation also honored Cambodian environmental youth activist group Mother Nature Cambodia, Kenyan environmental activist Phyllis Omido and Ghanaian doctor Eunice Brookman-Amisah for her work promoting access to safe abortion across Africa.

The four laureates are “fighting for people’s right to health, safety, a clean environment and democracy,” the head of the Ole von Exkull Foundation said in a statement.

THE SOS Mediterranean was founded by activists in 2015 amid intense criticism of the EU for mishandling the large number of migrants dying trying to reach Europe.

The organization, which has offices in France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland, funds and manages the Ocean Viking rescue vessel, which offers medical and psychosocial care to migrants rescued at sea.

“The organization’s unwavering commitment to humanity not only saved lives, but kept the public, European institutions and national governments fully aware of the reality of the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean Sea,” the jury said.

Meanwhile, the Omido she was honored because through legal battles, activism and an active presence in the media, she fought for justice and the health of the Kenyan community of Owino Uhuru, who has suffered from lead poisoning since a battery smelting plant began operating in her village .

The Foundation also praised Ms Mother Nature Cambodia for her work “on the front lines with local communities to conserve nature and livelihoods even in the face of a growing government crackdown on civil society activism.”

Finally, it presented Brookman-Amisach with an honorary award for her high-level advocacy, awareness programs and education on women’s reproductive rights over three decades in sub-Saharan Africa, where 92% live in countries where abortion is restricted.
Her efforts have led to abortion law reforms in Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Benin, Eswatini and Kenya and the implementation of abortion law in Ghana, Zambia, Malawi, Senegal and Mauritius, among others .