Nobel Committee awards 2026 Peace Prize to Navi Pillay

Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a South African judge, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting peace and international law. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognised her contributions to justice and international legal efforts, highlighting her longstanding work defending human rights and opposing apartheid.

According to the Daily Maverick, Pillay, 85, has held states and national leaders accountable and brought hope to victims of violence and conflict, demonstrating a firm moral compass throughout her career. The committee noted that 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 key international court cases.

Pillay's work includes chairing the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, a finding dismissed by Israel. The Nobel Peace Prize, worth 12 million Swedish crowns, is due to be presented in Oslo on December 10.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, El Pais English, IOL, Daily Maverick, Middle East Eye — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.