South African jurist Navi Pillay, who previously led a UN commission of inquiry that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her contributions to peace and international law.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Pillay's decades-long efforts to strengthen international justice and hold perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide accountable.
"This year's laureate has significantly enlarged the scope and impact of international law," the committee said, highlighting her work in international courts and as UN high commissioner for human rights.
Born under apartheid
Born into a family of Indian Tamil origin in Durban, South Africa, under apartheid, Pillay began her legal career challenging racial discrimination and defending opponents of the apartheid system.
She later served as a judge on South Africa's High Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court, before becoming UN high commissioner for human rights.
The Nobel committee highlighted her contribution to landmark rulings establishing that rape and sexual violence could constitute crimes against humanity and genocide.
Pillay has also served as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice in the case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar over allegations of genocide against the Rohingya minority.
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