The Right Livelihood Centre of the University of Zurich (RLC) acts as a hub between the Right Livelihood Foundation (RLF), the University of Zurich (UZH) and the public.
The Right Livelihood Award, also known as Alternative Nobel Prize, is presented annually by the Right Livelihood Foundation. In addition, the RLF considers it one of its duties to make the Laureates' knowledge and practical work accessible by cooperating profoundly with Universities all around the world. It partners with international university networks such as the Right Livelihood College and the Global Campus of Human Rights. The Right Livelihood Centre of the University of Zurich has been founded within this context.
The RLC contributes to teaching, continuing education and public relations to make the Laureates’ knowledge and their practical work accessible. At the same time, the centre helps to transfer academic research in the area of human rights and sustainability into the work of the Right Livelihood Foundation.
The foundation for the cooperation of the Right Livelihood Foundation with the University of Zurich is the annual lecture, which took place in 2008 for the first time at the University's aula. Ever since, a current Laureate holds a public lecture about their work and knowledge in November or December every year.
13th Annual Lecture
On December 1st 2020, the annual Right Livelihood Lecture took place. This time, with 2020 laureate Bryan Stevenson in digital form.
The complete recording of the lecture can be found here or on Youtube.
Annual Lecture
The annual Award Lecture in November or December was initiated by the Right Livelihood Foundation Switzerland and the Master of Advanced Studies in Applied History of the University of Zurich in order to present important personages to a broader audience. The Right Livelihood Centre hosts the lecture since 2019.
Lectures since 2008
2020 Bryan Stevenson, USA: «Beat the drum for justice»
2019 Aminatou Haidar, Western Sahara: «La lutte non-violante du peuple sahroui»
2018 Tony Rinaudo, Australia: «If you work with nature, miracles are possible» / «Welche Zukunft wollt ihr für eure Kinder?»
2017 Yetnerbesh Nigussie, Ethiopia: «Focus on the person, not the disability»
2016 Can Dündar für Cumhuriyet, Turkey: «Wir werden weiter schreiben!»
2015 Gino Strada, Italy: «Effective responses to global humanitarian emergencies» / «Es gibt keine Rechtfertigung für Krieg»
2014 Asma Jahangir, Pakistan: «Human Rights in an Unsafe Environment» / «Ein Leben für die Menschenrechte»
2013 Hans Herren, Switzerland: «Gesunde Nahrung in einer gesunden Umwelt»
2012 Sima Samar, Afghanistan: «Afghanistan – Zwischen Zuversicht und Angst»
2011 Jacqueline Moudeina, Chad: «Im Einsatz für die Gerechtigkeit»
2010 Erwin Kräutler, Brazil: «Im Einsatz am Amazonas»
2009 René Ngongo: Congo: «Kann Kongos Regenwald unsere Erde retten?»
2008 Monika Hauser, Germany: «Wann haben Sie zuletzt vergewaltigter Frauen gedacht?»