{
  "id": 13098327,
  "title": "UN human rights office welcomes Nobel Prize winner Pillay as staunch defender of human rights",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/un-human-rights-office-welcomes-nobel-prize-winner-pillay-as-staunch-13098327",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T11:14:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-09-un-human-rights-office-welcomes-nobel-prize-winner-pillay-as-staunch-defender-of-human-rights/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United Nations human rights office expressed delight upon learning that Navi Pillay, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been honored for her tireless efforts in championing human rights. Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, conveyed her excitement to reporters in Geneva, emphasizing the need for more individuals to dedicate themselves to the cause.\n\nPillay previously served as the head of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and held a position as a judge at the International Criminal Court. In September, she unveiled a report by the UN Commission of Inquiry which concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza and that prominent Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had incited these atrocities. The accusations made by Pillay were met with strong denial from Israel.\n\nMantoo hoped that Pillay's recent award would serve as an inspiration for others to continue speaking out in defense of and promotion of human rights globally.",
  "summary": "The United Nations human rights office has welcomed Navi Pillay's Nobel Peace Prize win, recognising her longstanding advocacy for human rights. Pillay, an 85-year-old South African champion of international law, was awarded the prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law.\n\nPillay's career has included work during South Africa's apartheid era, where she was involved in cases involving anti-apartheid activists and political prisoners, including the landmark Rivonia Trial, which led to Nelson Mandela's life imprisonment. According to The Korea Times, the Norwegian Nobel Committee described her work as \"a source of hope and inspiration to all those who seek to bring about a more peaceful world\".\n\nThe Nobel Peace Prize comes with a gold medal, a diploma, and a prize sum of $1.2 million, and will be presented at a formal ceremony in Oslo on December 10. Upon hearing the news, Pillay joked that she might \"share the prize\" with US President Donald Trump if people kept applauding her, and initially thought it was a joke, wanting to verify the information. Pillay also mentioned her work heading the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which last year found that genocide was occurring in Gaza.",
  "key_points": [
    "UN human rights office welcomes Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay",
    "Pillay served as head of UN Commission of Inquiry on Palestinian Territory",
    "Pillay accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "UN human rights office welcomes Nobel Prize winner Pillay as staunch defender of human rights",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/un-human-rights-office-welcomes-nobel-prize-winner-pillay-as-staunch",
        "published": "2026-10-09T09:46:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "‘Justice is key to lasting peace’: ICC hails Nobel Peace Prize for Indian-origin human rights champion Navi Pillay",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/justice-is-key-to-lasting-peace-icc-hails-nobel-peace-prize-for",
        "published": "2026-10-09T11:01:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}