THE INTERVIEW : The Nobel peace prize has come home, says SA’s latest laureate, Navi Pillay
South African judge Navi Pillay, named 2026 Nobel peace laureate, says the prize has returned to its rightful home: the pursuit of justice.
South African judge Navi Pillay has been named the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, with the Norwegian Nobel Committee praising her work as a judge on international criminal tribunals. Pillay, South Africa's fifth Nobel Peace laureate, told Daily Maverick that the award has returned the prize to its intended purpose: honoring individuals who uphold justice through the law.
She expressed gratitude that the global public eagerly sought to return the prize to its rightful place, emphasizing that her achievements as a judge were among her most significant accomplishments. Pillay highlighted her role on the benches of various international courts, including the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), where she played a pivotal role in recognizing sexual violence as a crime against humanity.
She underscored the importance of international legal systems holding war criminals accountable, asserting that the world has become a more peaceful place due to these judgments. However, she also pointed out the growing threats to international criminal justice, particularly from the United States and Russia, who are attempting to undermine the International Criminal Court.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
