{ "id": 13096362, "title": "2026 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Navi Pillay", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/2026-nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-navi-pillay-13096362", "topic": "world", "section": "World", "published": "2026-10-09T10:49:42.000Z", "source": { "name": "The Island Sri Lanka", "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka", "url": "http://island.lk/2026-nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-navi-pillay/" }, "original_language": "en", "account": "The Norwegian Nobel Committee has bestowed the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize upon Navanethem \"Navi\" Pillay, a distinguished South African jurist. The esteemed award, bestowed in the prestigious Oslo ceremony, honors Pillay for her tireless advocacy in promoting peace and upholding international law. As the former United Nations rights chief, Pillay has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are brought to justice. In a statement, the committee emphasized that international law is not merely a supplement to peace and security, but an essential necessity, especially in the face of existential challenges, including a surge in wars and conflicts. Committee chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes underscored the fragility of the international legal system, which is currently under immense pressure and facing relentless attacks. Judges, he noted, are the guardians of the delicate balance between order and chaos. Pillay, an 85-year-old woman of Indian Tamil heritage, is the first woman to launch a law practice in Natal in 1967. She served as a defense attorney for Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists, and was the inaugural woman of color to preside over South Africa's High Court. Pillay subsequently served on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court, as well as the UN high commissioner for human rights. The committee highlighted her pivotal role in recognizing rape and sexual violence as crimes against humanity and genocide during her tenure on the Rwanda tribunal. She also chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which concluded that Israel perpetrated genocide in Gaza. Pillay, a judge at the International Court of Justice, recently presided over a case accusing Myanmar of genocide. Upon learning of her nomination, Pillay expressed initial disbelief, stating, \"I still want to verify this,\" before commending her peers for recognizing her courage in labeling the situation in Gaza as genocide. The Nobel Peace Prize, valued at 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million), will be presented on December 10, coinciding with the anniversary of Swedish philanthropist Alfred Nobel's demise.", "summary": "The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay. The committee’s announcement of the 125th Nobel Peace Prize, made on Friday in Oslo, said the prestigious award would go to the South African jurist for her work to promote peace and international law. The committee said in a statement […]", "key_points": [], "editors_take": null, "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 10, "also_reported_by": [ { "outlet": "The Indian Express", "title": "Nobel Peace Prize 2026 Winner: Indian-origin South African jurist Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay gets Nobel Peace Prize 2026", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/nobel-peace-prize-2026-winner-indian-origin-south-african-jurist", "published": "2026-10-09T09:03:21.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News", "title": "Who is Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay? Indian-origin jurist gets Nobel Peace Prize 2026", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/who-is-navanethem-navi-pillay-indian-origin-jurist-gets-nobel-peace", "published": "2026-10-09T09:04:27.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Al Jazeera", "title": "2026 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Navi Pillay", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/2026-nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-navi-pillay", "published": "2026-10-09T09:06:43.000Z" }, { "outlet": "ABC News AU", "title": "Breaking: Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Judge Navi Pillay", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/breaking-nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-judge-navi-pillay", "published": "2026-10-09T09:14:54.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Free Press Journal", "title": "Who Is Indian-Origin Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay? All About Her Journey To The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/who-is-indian-origin-navanethem-navi-pillay-all-about-her-journey-to", "published": "2026-10-09T09:35:27.000Z" }, { "outlet": "NDTV", "title": "Indian-Origin Navanethem \"Navi\" Pillay Awarded Nobel Peace Prize 2026", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/indian-origin-navanethem-navi-pillay-awarded-nobel-peace-prize-2026", "published": "2026-10-09T09:36:57.000Z" }, { "outlet": "CBS News", "title": "Nobel Peace Prize awarded to former ICC judge Navanethem \"Navi\" Pillay", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-former-icc-judge-navanethem-navi-pillay", "published": "2026-10-09T09:46:40.000Z" }, { "outlet": "France 24", "title": "REPLAY: 2026 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/replay-2026-nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-navanethem-navi-pillay", "published": "2026-10-09T10:09:55.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Euronews", "title": "‘I still want to verify this’: Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay’s first reaction", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/i-still-want-to-verify-this-nobel-peace-prize-winner-navi-pillays", "published": "2026-10-09T11:04:46.000Z" } ] }, "ai_generated": true, "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original." }