The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, the South African judge and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Announcing the prize on October 9, the committee honoured her “efforts to promote peace and international law,” calling her one of “the great defenders of international legal principles in our time.”
Key facts
- Pillay, 85, is the fifth South African to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
- She presided over the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and served as UN human rights chief from 2008 to 2014.
- She currently serves as a judge at the International Court of Justice.
From Durban to The Hague
Born in Durban in 1940, Pillay built her early career defending anti-apartheid activists at a time when few women of colour could practise law in South Africa. She later became the first woman of colour to serve on the country’s High Court before moving into international justice.
A landmark legacy at the Rwanda tribunal
The committee highlighted Pillay’s work at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where rulings helped establish that rape and sexual violence can constitute crimes against humanity and acts of genocide. The tribunal also delivered a first-of-its-kind conviction for incitement to genocide based on media propaganda — precedents that continue to shape international criminal law.
Human rights chief and investigator
As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Pillay spoke out on abuses across the world. More recently she chaired a UN commission of inquiry that concluded Israel was responsible for genocide in Gaza — findings Israel strongly rejects. The prize has therefore drawn both praise and criticism, reflecting deep divisions over the conflict.
Pillay said she would dedicate the award “to all of the survivors of international crimes.”
Reaction
- Volker Türk, the current UN human rights chief, said the award reaffirms that human rights and justice are fundamental to peace and security.
- Tomoko Akane, President of the International Criminal Court, noted its significance at a time when the international legal order faces serious challenges.
- Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president, praised Pillay’s courage and integrity.
Why this prize, now
With international courts and UN mechanisms under pressure from sanctions, funding cuts and political attacks, the committee’s choice is widely read as a defence of the rules-based system itself. The prize will be presented in Oslo on December 10. More in our World News section.