Peace and international law advocate Navi Pillay of South Africa has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her contributions. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday, October 9.
Announcing the prize in Oslo, the capital of Norway, Committee Chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes stated that Navi Pillay has played a crucial role in ensuring accountability for serious crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Throughout her long career, Navi Pillay has worked in favor of international law with courage and integrity. Born into an Indian Tamil family in Durban, South Africa, and growing up amidst apartheid, Pillay began her fight against discrimination and deprivation as a lawyer. Her career began by fighting legal battles on behalf of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela and others.
She subsequently served as a judge on the High Court of South Africa, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and the International Criminal Court. She also served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Most recently, she served as the chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Pillay currently serves as a judge at the International Court of Justice in the genocide case against Myanmar.
Navi Pillay has made significant contributions to the application and development of international law. In various landmark cases, she has demonstrated that it is possible to prevent war and violence through legal action. She has also played a role in strengthening international legal institutions.
