SRINAGAR: Indian-origin South African human rights lawyer Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her efforts to promote peace and international law, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
BREAKING NEWS
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2026 #NobelPeacePrize to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law.#NobelPrize https://t.co/97vurspw6z
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2026
The committee said Pillay’s work had helped hold states and national leaders accountable for violations of the law and offered hope to victims of violence and conflict. It highlighted her longstanding emphasis on the responsibility of individuals and governments to uphold the rule of law.
Pillay, who served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014, has had a career spanning the fight against apartheid in South Africa and landmark international legal proceedings.
Born on September 23, 1941, to Tamil parents in South Africa, she grew up under apartheid, facing discrimination as a member of the Indian-origin community.
The Nobel Committee said a consistent theme throughout her career had been her defence of those challenging apartheid, including Nelson Mandela, and her subsequent work as a judge in major international cases.
Her contribution to proceedings before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was also cited. The committee said her influence was significant in establishing that rape and sexual violence could constitute crimes against humanity and acts of genocide.
It also credited her with playing a key role in a legal breakthrough in which a defendant faced charges of incitement to commit genocide based solely on the dissemination of propaganda.
Describing Pillay as a prominent defender of international legal principles, the committee said her career underscored the importance of strengthening the global rule of law. It added that her commitment to justice and human dignity offered inspiration to those working towards a more peaceful world.
