Navi Pillay awarded 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognised the South African jurist’s work on international law and peace. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated her.
South African jurist Navanethem “Navi” Pillay was named the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate on 9 October 2026, with the Norwegian Nobel Committee honouring her efforts to advance peace and international law.
Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes said Pillay had helped build a more comprehensive international legal order. He highlighted her role in bringing prosecutions for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Pillay on social media, praising her lifelong commitment to justice and human dignity. She cited Pillay’s work confronting apartheid in South Africa and the genocide in Rwanda.
Pillay held the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights between 2008 and 2014. Before that, she sat in the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court from 2003 to 2008 and served as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
Born in Durban, she earlier defended anti-apartheid activists and helped establish prisoners’ rights on Robben Island. She also served as an acting judge on the South African High Court.
The Nobel Foundation announced in September that the award in each category would rise to kr12 million, marking the Nobel Prize’s 125th anniversary.
