EXCLUSIVE: Navi Pillay plans to use Nobel Peace Prize money to help people in need

Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay, formerly South Africa's High Commissioner for Human Rights, plans to use her prize money to help people in need. Reflecting on her upbringing in Durban under apartheid, Pillay says her six-year-old self understood the injustice of discrimination based on skin colour. She has dedicated her career to international courts, the United Nations, and investigating human rights violations.

Despite xenophobic violence and protests in South Africa, Pillay condemns attacks on migrants and advocates for legal corridors to facilitate refugees. She emphasizes the importance of investigating violence, warning against rumors and misinformation. Pillay has faced public criticism, including remarks from US President Donald Trump, but remains focused on using her award money to aid those in need.

She sees the recognition as a broader endorsement of South Africa's international principles and stresses the role of courageous witnesses in advancing justice. Despite her international responsibilities, Pillay maintains a strong connection to her hometown of Clairwood, Durban.