From apartheid to Nobel Peace Prize: The remarkable life of Navi Pillay
Before Navanethem “Navi” Pillay became one of the world’s most prominent human rights jurists, she was a young girl growing up in a poor Indian neighbourhood of Durban, South Africa, where racial discrimination shaped almost every aspect of daily life. The daughter of a bus driver, she would go on to challenge the apartheid system, defend political prisoners, become South Africa’s first non-white…
South African judge Navi Pillay has been honored with the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless efforts in promoting peace and upholding international law. Pillay, who is 85, has served on various international courts, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. She has also been the chairperson of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
The Nobel Committee cited her work in maintaining an organized international order amidst growing attacks on international law and justice. Pillay has been a strong advocate for holding states and national leaders accountable throughout her career, starting from her early work defending Nelson Mandela against apartheid. The committee praised her moral compass and determination to bring hope to victims of violence and conflict.
The prize comes at a time when the system of international law is facing significant pressure and attack, with the International Criminal Court being a frequent target. The committee's decision to award Pillay is meant to promote the importance of an international legal framework, rather than any direct criticism of US President Donald Trump, according to Haakon Gjerloew, the acting director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
The Nobel Peace Prize, worth 12 million Swedish crowns, or approximately R20 million, will be presented on December 10 in Oslo, Sweden.
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