Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Judge Navi Pillay

Judge Navanethem "Navi" Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

The South African-born former UN human rights chief was recognised for her efforts to promote peace and international law.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee described her as a source of hope for all those who seek a more peaceful world.

Judge Pillay, 85, served as a judge at the International Criminal Court, the High Court of South Africa, and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

She was the first non-white woman to serve on South Africa's High Court.

During her tenure as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Judge Pillay visited the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, Poland.

She was also chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which last year found that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.

Israel dismissed the report as "scandalous".

Judge Pillay has dedicated the award to "all of the survivors of international crimes".

She stated that the award strengthens her conviction that the rule of law, independent courts, and an international legal order based on principle must be defended.

Judge Pillay also emphasized that world leaders have a legal obligation to protect human rights and refrain from war.