Justice For Myanmar, an anonymous collective of Myanmar activists, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Right Livelihood Award, also known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize," in recognition of their courageous and pioneering efforts to dismantle the financial networks sustaining the country’s military junta.
For 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, 203 Laureates from 81 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.
Founded in 2019 following the military’s campaign of genocide against the Rohingya, Justice For Myanmar (JFM) has become a vital force within the Myanmar people’s resistance known as Spring Revolution. Their exposés have revealed arms deals, offshore assets, and corporate complicity in atrocities, while their campaigns have pressured global companies and governments to sever ties with the junta.
Operating anonymously due to extreme security risks, JFM uses forensic research to “follow the money” and uncover how international corporations, investors, and governments enable repression and human rights abuses in Myanmar. Their investigations have led to sanctions, divestments, and criminal probes across multiple jurisdictions, catalysing global accountability and galvanizing international civil society to take action.
As 2025 unfolds, Myanmar stands at a pivotal crossroads. The military junta is pressing forward with plans to hold a sham election in December in an attempt to legitimise its unlawful coup under the guise of a democratic process. In preparation, the junta has intensified its campaign of terror, targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and homes, in a brutal effort to suppress dissent.
JFM calls for urgent global action to respond to this moment by pushing business and governments to cut the junta's access to funds, arms and aviation fuel.
Right Livelihood’s jury said that Justice For Myanmar was receiving the Award “for their courage and their pioneering investigative methods in exposing and eroding the international support to Myanmar’s corrupt military.”
It is the first time the Right Livelihood Award goes to Myanmar.
Justice For Myanmar said:
“Receiving this award is a powerful reminder that the world has not forgotten the Myanmar people’s struggle for democracy, peace and justice. We see this recognition as not for us alone - it belongs to the countless people in Myanmar who have lost their lives resisting the junta’s brutality and defending democracy and humanity, and to those who continue to oppose the military junta with extraordinary courage, sacrifice and dignity. We accept this award in their honour.”
Right Livelihood’s Executive Director, Ole von Uexkull, said:
“JFM represents an innovative model of courageous and strategic activism for peace and democracy. They have built a powerful investigative force that exposes the hidden financial lifelines of a brutal regime. With forensic precision and relentless pursuit of accountability, they enable collective resistance and shake the very foundations of the Myanmar military’s impunity.”
The other 2025 Right Livelihood Laureates are:
- Emergency Response Rooms (Sudan). Press conference: 10:00-10:30 CEST. Register here.
- Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (international) and Julian Aguon (Guam). Press conference: 11:00-11:30 CEST. Register here.
- Audrey Tang (Taiwan). Press conference: 15:00-15:30 CEST. Register here.
The 2025 Laureates will be honoured during a televised Award Presentation in Stockholm on December 2.
Justice For Myanmar (JFM) is a Myanmar covert group of activists working to expose the financial architecture and global corporate complicity sustaining the military junta and cut its access to funds, arms and aviation fuel. Through forensic research and the “follow the money” method, JFM has revealed how international corporations, investors and governments facilitate repression, leading to sanctions, divestments, and criminal investigations across various jurisdictions.
Due to increasing violence and a terror campaign carried out by the military junta in Myanmar, JFM operates under conditions of anonymity. The group’s work has traced hidden military assets, uncovered offshore networks, and documented corporate complicity in human rights abuses and international crimes. Despite security risks in Myanmar, they continue to publish groundbreaking investigations that pierce the veil of impunity and campaign to dismantle the Myanmar military and its cartel.
JFM’s investigations have catalysed global accountability. Civil society from around the world has mobilised around their findings, joining the Myanmar people’s efforts to defend democracy, humanity and the people’s public assets. Their work proves that truth, even when spoken anonymously, can shake the foundations of power.
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, 203 Laureates from 81 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.
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