Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Navi Pillay Wins Nobel Peace Prize for Human Rights Work
Navi Pillay is a South African lawyer whose parents came from an Indian Tamil family.
She grew up poor under apartheid, a system of racial discrimination in South Africa.
As a lawyer, she defended people who opposed apartheid.
She later served as a judge in South Africa and at international courts.
She also led the United Nations human rights office from 2008 to 2014.
The Nobel committee said her work helped people affected by violence and supported peace and international law.
She won the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be presented in Oslo on December 10.
One UN commission she chaired said Israel committed genocide in Gaza, while Jerusalem called its report scandalous.
Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a South African jurist of Indian Tamil descent, won the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel committee cited her work promoting peace and international law and holding leaders accountable.
Pillay defended anti-apartheid activists and became the first woman to open a law practice in South Africa’s Natal Province.
She served as a judge at international courts and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.
A UN commission she chaired concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza; Jerusalem called the report “scandalous.”
- Who
- Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a South African jurist of Indian Tamil descent.
- What
- She won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting peace and international law.
- When
- The article says the prize was awarded on Friday, October 9, and will be presented on December 10.
- Where
- The prize will be presented in Oslo; Pillay was born in Clairwood, Durban, South Africa.
- Why
- The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited her efforts to hold states and national leaders accountable and her work defending human rights.
Commission’s finding
Israel’s response
Gaza report
Commission’s finding
The UN Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Pillay, concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
Israel’s response
Jerusalem called the commission’s report “scandalous.”
- Award
- Nobel Peace Prize
- Recipient
- Navanethem “Navi” Pillay
- Prize amount
- 12 million Swedish crowns (about $1.2 million)
- Presentation date and place
- December 10 in Oslo
- Birthplace and date
- Clairwood, Durban, South Africa; September 23, 1941
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- 2008–2014
- Education
- University of Natal; Harvard University