Oslo:The Norwegian Nobel Committee has announced Navanethem (Navi) Pillay as the recipient of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, Pillay was awarded this prestigious prize in recognition of her significant efforts to promote peace and uphold international law.
Navanethem Pillay, born on September 23, 1941, in Durban, South Africa, hails from a family of Indian origin. She is a distinguished lawyer and former judge with expertise in international law and human rights. Her academic journey led her from studying law at the University of Natal to earning master’s and doctoral degrees at Harvard University. During South Africa’s apartheid era, Pillay was an outspoken advocate against racial discrimination and defended political prisoners. In 1995, Nelson Mandela appointed her to the High Court of South Africa. Pillay’s international contributions include serving as president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1999 to 2003 and as a judge of the International Criminal Court from 2003 to 2008. From 2008 to 2014, she held the position of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and later chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was made at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway.
In 2025, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to María Corina Machado for her dedication to promoting democratic rights in Venezuela and her efforts towards facilitating a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.