South African jurist Navi Pillay, former UN human rights chief and ICJ judge, received the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting peace and international law, including her role on a commission that found genocide in Gaza.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday that Navi Pillay had been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law.
Pillay, 85, has served as a judge on the International Criminal Court, president of the Rwanda tribunal, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and chair of a UN commission of inquiry that concluded Israel committed genocidal acts in Gaza, a finding Israel rejected.
The committee highlighted her role in advancing accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide at a time when international legal institutions face political pressure.
Pillay, of Indian Tamil origin born in Durban, South Africa, reacted with surprise while speaking at an event in Nuremberg and dedicated the award to survivors of international crimes.
South African officials welcomed the recognition while Israeli leaders condemned the decision, citing her work on the Gaza commission.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Nobel committee chair called it a message to those attacking international law
- Pillay joked about sharing the prize and dedicated it to survivors
- Israeli officials said the committee had lost its moral compass