Navanethem “Navi” Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in recognition of her lifelong dedication to advancing international law, defending human rights, and securing global peace.
The award-giving committee said in a statement, “A common thread runs from her early work defending Nelson Mandela and others who stood up against apartheid to her service as a judge in some of the key international court cases of our time.”
Speaking about Pillay’s massive contributions, the committee honours her for holding states and national leaders accountable and bringing hope to victims of violence and conflict while holding firm a “moral compass” in her long career.
She served as the chair of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory that concluded last year. The report accused Israel for committing genocide in Gaza and Israel dismissed this report.
A native of Durban, South Africa, Pillay led the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda as its president between the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Last year, the prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado for strengthening democracy.
The Nobel Peace Prize possesses prize money worth about $1.2 million and will be presented in Oslo on December 10.
