Who is Navi Pillay, winner of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize?

What the report says

South African jurist Navanethem “Navi” Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday. Al Jazeera reported that the committee cited her decades of work on genocide and war-crimes accountability, as well as her broader commitment to peace and international law. The award makes her the fifth South African to receive the prize.

Pillay, 85, was born in Durban and built a legal career that began in apartheid-era South Africa, where she defended anti-apartheid activists and became the first woman of colour to serve on the country’s High Court. She later led the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014, and is now a judge at the International Court of Justice. The article also noted that she recently chaired a UN inquiry that concluded Israel was responsible for genocide in Gaza, a finding Israel has rejected.

The Nobel Committee said Pillay’s work helped strengthen international legal principles, including recognition that rape and sexual violence can amount to crimes against humanity and genocide. Her selection comes at a time when the committee said international law faces heavy pressure. Rights officials and legal leaders welcomed the decision as a statement in support of courts, accountability and the rule of law.

Pillay was quoted reacting with surprise when the news circulated and later said she would dedicate the prize to survivors of international crimes. Al Jazeera’s report places the honour in the context of her long record on apartheid, genocide prosecutions and global human-rights advocacy.