In brief
South African former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her lifelong fight against war crimes and genocide. The award honours her work on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, her UN commission on Gaza, and her current role on the International Court of Justice handling the Myanmar genocide case. The announcement triggered sharp reactions, with Israel condemning the prize and U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing the award as a political weapon. International bodies and human rights organisations praised Pillay as an inspired choice in a time when the rule of law faces significant pressure.
Pillay was told of the award in Nuremberg's Palace of Justice.
Former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, age 85 and a judge at the International Court of Justice, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Committee said the honour recognises Pillay’s long‑standing commitment to secure justice for victims of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in places such as Rwanda, Myanmar and Gaza.
Pillay, who once served as the first non‑white woman on South Africa’s high court, was rewarded for her pioneering work protecting anti‑apartheid activists and her leadership of the UN‑backed International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
She had chaired a UN commission in 2024 that catalogued alleged war crimes in Gaza and accused Israel of inciting genocide – a finding that triggered backlash from Israel and prompted an American presidential tweet denouncing the award.
The medal also reflects Pillay’s ongoing efforts at the International Court of Justice, where she now sits on a case that pits Myanmar against The Gambia over alleged genocide against the Rohingya community.
The announcement sparked sharp reactions: Israel’s foreign ministry condemned the award as a weaponisation of the Nobel prize, while U.S. President Donald Trump quickly shared his dismissal on social media and the U.S. later rolled out sanctions against the ICC.
Critics around the world applaud the honour, with the UN Secretary‑General and Amnesty International’s head calling Pillay an “inspired choice” for the prize in a climate where international law faces significant pressure.
