Sweden retracts decision to expel award

The Swedish Parliament administration has changed its decision of January 30, 2006 to no longer allow the presentation of the Right Livelihood Award('Alternative Nobel Prize') in parliament. In a letter dated March 28, the head of the parliament administration, Anders Forsberg, writes that he has "decided to grant an exception from the administration's rules" because "the award has been presented in parliament for more than twenty years".

Right Livelihood Award founder Jakob von Uexkull: "This decision is the result of much hard work by our many supporters in the Swedish Parliament. We are very pleased that our future there is now secure."

Members of all seven party groups in the Swedish parliament, who together form an association to support the presentation of the Right Livelihood Award, had appealed to Parliament speaker Björn von Sydow to change the decision.

The Right Livelihood Award was founded in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull to honour and support those who work for practical solutions to the worlds most challenging problems. The 115 recipients from more than 50 countries work for peace, human rights, global justice, the environment or cultural issues.

For more information please contact:

Ole von Uexkull
Right Livelihood Award Foundation
Tel: +46-8-702 03 37
Fax: +46-8-702 03 38
ole @ rightlivelihood.org
www.rightlivelihood.org