‘Navi’ Pillay dedicates Nobel Prize to ‘survivors of international crimes’
The Hindu – International
You are logged in
Loading…
You don’t have any Active Subscription.
Subscribed with another email? Logout and Login with that one.
Your active subscription(s)
Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials,
Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription
Products you’ve access to
Additional Subscription Benefits
Account Settings
Need help with your subscription?
Weather News October 9, 2026 e-Paper
The View From India
Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.
First Day First Show
News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.
Today's Cache
Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.
Science For All
The weekly newsletter from science writers takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in!
Data Point
Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers
THEdge
At the cutting edge of education and careers
Health Matters
Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there
Gender Agenda
Stories from beyond the binary.
The Hindu On Books
Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.
Weather News October 9, 2026 e-Paper
Published – October 09, 2026 10:41 pm IST – NEW DELHI
South African-born jurist and former U.N. human rights chief Navanethem “Navi” Pillay sits at the Nuremberg Forum, Germany, on October 9, 2026, following the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize announcement.
| Photo Credit: AP
Congratulatory messages have poured in from across the world for Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of Tamil and South African heritage, who won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday (October 9, 2026). The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Ms. Pillay, noting that she has been “instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.”
In an impromptu speech at the Nuremberg Tribunal, where she was informed of the prize, Ms. Pillay thanked her colleagues who supported her work through the years. Later, at a press conference, she said, “I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Let me dedicate this award to all the survivors of international crimes, as well as to practitioners and defenders of international justice, whose compassion and courage continue to ensure that impunity will not be allowed to reign.” Ms. Pillay, 85, noted increasing attacks on the international justice system and called for accountability for crimes against humanity.
Navi Pillay: A life dedicated to justice and human rights | Timeline
Watch: Navi Pillay, South African jurist of Tamil descent, wins 2026 Peace Nobel
Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay: 5 facts about 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner
Ms. Pillay noted her journey as a lawyer in the High Court of South Africa, where she campaigned against apartheid-era discrimination, her work for justice in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and her most recent work at the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel. She said she has always tried to “advance and protect the dignity of every human being.”
In its announcement, the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee said, “The Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 goes to a person who, with exceptional courage and integrity, has led the way toward a more comprehensive global legal order. This year’s laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted.” The Nobel Prize Committee noted that Ms. Pillay, who was born into a family of Indian Tamil origin in apartheid-era Durban, South Africa, became a “legal pioneer” who confronted “deep structural discrimination, segregation, and exclusion.”
“A common thread runs from her early work defending Nelson Mandela and others who stood up against apartheid to her service as a judge in some of the key international court cases of our time,” said the Nobel committee in the announcement.
In a message, Agnes Calamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said, “There is no better choice than Navi Pillay.”
“She has headed the commission of inquiry which found that Israel committed the crime of genocide at the time when many States are trying to defend and protect Israel’s actions. She has defended human rights, at a time when States are seeking to hollow out their rights commitments,” said Ms. Calamard, praising the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Ms. Pillay.
“It’s a well-deserved tribute not just for Navi Pillay but also for the international rule of law and for all the UN-related institutions that she has been associated with, because this award is not just for the individual but also for the institutions and the ideals that the UN and its affiliated institutions represent,” said Kamal Malhotra, Head of the United Nations in Malaysia, Vietnam and Turkey (2008-2021).
Published – October 09, 2026 10:41 pm IST
Copyright© 2026, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
BACK TO TOP
Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
Fonte: The Hindu – International
