Navi Pillay, South African jurist and ICJ judge, wins 2026 Nobel peace prize

New Delhi: The South African jurist Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, 85, have won the 2026 Nobel peace prize for her decades-long work in human rights, international justice and holding those responsible for serious crimes accountable. The Norwegian Nobel committee recognized her efforts to strengthen international law and ensure justice for victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The committee highlighted Pillay’s contribution to international justice, particularly her role in establishing that rape and other forms of sexual violence could constitute crimes against humanity and genocide. Her career has spanned the struggle against apartheid, international criminal tribunals and the United Nations.

Who is Navi Pillay?

Born in Durban, South Africa, on September 23, 1941, Pillay is of Indian Tamil origin. Her grandparents migrated from India to South Africa in the 1890s as indentured labourers who worked on sugar plantations in Natal. Her father, Narrainsamy Naidoo, was a bus driver, while her mother, Santhama Naidoo, was a homemaker.

Pillay grew up under apartheid, a system of racial segregation that denied South Africa’s Black majority equal rights. She began practising law in 1967 and became the first woman to establish her own law practice in the South African province of Natal. During the apartheid era, she defended Nelson Mandela and other opponents of the system.

In 1995, Pillay became the first Black woman appointed to South Africa’s high court. She later served as a judge and president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which was established to prosecute those responsible for the 1994 genocide.

Her work at the tribunal helped establish important legal precedents on sexual violence during conflict. In the landmark case against former Rwandan mayor Jean-Paul Akayesu, the tribunal recognized that rape could constitute an act of genocide when committed with the intent to destroy a protected group.

Pillay served as the United Nations high commissioner for human rights from 2008 to 2014. During her tenure, she worked to combat discrimination, promote fundamental rights and press governments to meet their human rights obligations. She also served as a judge at the international criminal court.

In recent years, Pillay, who is currently serving as a judge at the international court of justice (ICJ), has drawn attention for her work on alleged atrocities in Gaza. She chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. The commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, a finding rejected by Israel.

Pillay has also been associated with proceedings at the International Court of Justice concerning allegations that Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya. Her work across these cases reflects her focus on applying international law to allegations of mass violence.

Navi Pillay jokes about sharing prize with Trump

Pillay appeared surprised when she learnt that she had won the Nobel peace prize. In a video shared on social media by Amnesty International secretary general, Agnes Callamard, she initially asked reporters whether the announcement was true.

After receiving confirmation, she said, “Being a lawyer and a judge, I still want to verify this.” She also questioned why speaking the truth should require courage while reflecting on the response to her work on Gaza.

Pillay later joked about the United States president, Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to win the Nobel peace prize. “If you clap a little bit more I may share this prize with Trump,” she said, drawing laughter from those gathered to congratulate her.

The Nobel committee said Pillay’s work demonstrated the importance of international law in protecting victims and holding those responsible for serious crimes accountable. The 2026 Nobel peace prize carries an award of 12 million Swedish kronor, approximately $1.2 million, and will be presented in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

Other Nobel prize winners announced in 2026

Pillay’s selection is the fifth Nobel prize announcement this week, following the awards in medicine, physics, chemistry and literature.

The Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries that helped establish optogenetics, a technique that allows researchers to control nerve cells using light.

Francis Halzen won the Nobel prize in Physics for his work on the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and high-energy neutrinos from outer space, which help scientists study powerful cosmic phenomena.

Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai received the Nobel prize in Chemistry for their contributions to the understanding of molecular handedness and mirror-image forms of molecules.

The Nobel prize in Literature was awarded to Anne Carson for her distinctive writing, which brings ancient myths and classical literature into conversation with modern life.

The Nobel prize in Economic Sciences is scheduled to be announced on October 12, completing this year’s Nobel announcements.