Who is Navi Pillay? India-origin lawyer wins Nobel Peace Prize 2026 — Know all about her career and key achievements
Nobel Peace Prize 2026: Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay won this year's Nobel Peace Prize. A judge on the International Court of Justice, Pillay is a human rights champion who headed the Rwanda genocide tribunal and last year accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, the prize committee said.
Navi Pillay, a distinguished Indian-origin lawyer and legal pioneer, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2026 for her tireless efforts in promoting peace and international law. Born in Durban, South Africa, in 1941 to Indian parents of Tamil descent, Pillay grew up under apartheid and went on to build a career devoted to advancing human rights and equality.
She became the first woman to open a law practice in South Africa's Natal Province and later the first Black woman to serve as a judge on South Africa's High Court. Pillay has served as a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court, as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized Pillay's efforts in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted, and her commitment to justice and human dignity as a source of hope and inspiration for those seeking a more peaceful world.
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