Navi Pillay Wins Nobel Peace Prize for Defending International Law

South African-born jurist Navi Pillay has won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting international law and human rights, as global justice institutions face growing political pressure over their investigations and rulings.

Nobel Committee recognises Pillay’s work

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award in Oslo on Friday, praising Pillay’s contribution to international justice. Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes said her work offered hope and inspiration to people seeking a more peaceful world.

He added that the award sent a message to those attempting to undermine international rules and institutions.

Career spanning decades of human rights work

Pillay, 85, is a former United Nations human rights chief whose career includes defending the rights of people imprisoned during South Africa’s apartheid era and serving in international judicial roles.

She received the news while attending the Nuremberg Forum in Germany, where historic trials of Nazi war criminals helped establish principles of modern international law.

Addressing the audience after a standing ovation, Pillay said public support mattered to her and jokingly remarked that, as a lawyer and judge, she still wanted to verify the announcement.

Gaza findings draw international attention

Pillay chaired a United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, established through the UN-backed Human Rights Council.

The commission concluded in a report last year that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, alleging specific intent to destroy Palestinians in the territory. It also accused Israel’s president, prime minister and former defence minister of inciting genocide.

Israel has rejected the allegations and refused to cooperate with the commission since its establishment in 2021.

International courts face political pressure

Pillay’s award comes amid criticism of international justice institutions by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both leaders have criticised the findings of the commission she led, while also expressing strong opposition to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, where Pillay has worked.

Former International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia judge Alphons Orie stressed the importance of international courts, saying they remain necessary when national legal systems cannot prosecute senior political leaders.

He expressed hope that the institutions would survive despite the pressure directed against them.

Pillay rejects accusations of bias

Pillay has repeatedly rejected allegations of antisemitism and claims that she ignored attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel.

In an interview with The Associated Press last year, she recalled working alongside Jewish lawyers during the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. She also noted that she had visited Israel while serving as the UN human rights chief between 2008 and 2014.