South African jurist Navanethem “Navi” Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote international law and ensure the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday, October 9, praising Pillay for her courage and integrity in advancing a more comprehensive global legal order.
“Navi Pillay’s commitment to universal legal principles and her firm moral compass are constants in a long career,” the committee said.
Born in Durban, South Africa, to a family of Indian Tamil origin during the apartheid era, Pillay built a career challenging racial discrimination and exclusion through law and international justice.
Her legal journey included defending Nelson Mandela and other opponents of apartheid before serving in several prominent judicial and human rights positions.
Pillay has served as a judge on South Africa’s High Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court. She also held the position of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
More recently, she chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Pillay is currently serving as a judge at the International Court of Justice in proceedings concerning allegations that Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya population.
Her Nobel Peace Prize recognises her longstanding work in promoting accountability for serious international crimes and strengthening the role of international law in addressing human rights violations.
