South African jurist Navanethem Navi Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. She comes from an Indian Tamil family. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on October 9.
Born in Durban in 1941, Pillay built a distinguished legal career challenging racial discrimination and defending human rights under apartheid.
She established her own law firm in 1967 and represented anti-apartheid activists. In 1995, she became the first non-white woman appointed to South Africa’s High Court.
The award recognises her decades of work to strengthen international justice and ensure accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Pillay served as a judge and president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Her judicial work helped establish that rape and sexual violence could constitute acts of genocide.
She later served as a judge at the International Criminal Court and as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.
Navi Pillay chaired the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory from 2021 to 2025. She has served as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice in proceedings concerning allegations of genocide against Myanmar.
The Nobel Committee praised Pillay’s commitment to universal legal principles, personal integrity and judicial courage. Her recognition highlights the importance of international law at a time of mounting conflicts and pressure on legal institutions.
The award honours her sustained efforts to uphold justice and protect human dignity.
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