Durban:South African jurist Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her significant contributions to peace and international law, recognizing her efforts to strengthen international justice and hold accountable those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Norwegian Nobel Committee commended Pillay for enlarging the scope and impact of international law through her work in international courts and her role as UN high commissioner for human rights. Pillay's legal career began with challenging racial discrimination and defending opponents of apartheid in South Africa. She later served on South Africa's High Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and the International Criminal Court.

The Nobel committee noted Pillay's involvement in landmark rulings that established rape and sexual violence as crimes against humanity and genocide. Her service as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice in a genocide case involving The Gambia and Myanmar was also highlighted.

Pillay chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory from 2021 to 2025. In 2025, she presented the commission's findings to a UN General Assembly committee, asserting Israel's responsibility for genocide in Gaza, and stated that Israeli leadership had incited genocide.

The Nobel committee emphasized the importance of international legal institutions in preventing conflict and securing accountability. "Peace requires justice," the committee stated, underscoring the necessity of the rule of law for ensuring peace and resolving conflicts non-violently.