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Reacting to the news that South African international jurist and human rights defender Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnes Callamard said: 

“We pay tribute to Navi Pillay whose commitment to international law, unwavering independence and guiding moral light have made her one of the most respected human rights figures of our time. Not only does this award honour an extraordinary individual, it also comes at a time when everything Navi Pillay stands for is coming under increasing attack, as powerful states attempt to hollow out the rule of law and jettison fundamental international rules and norms.

“This award is recognition that international justice is the cornerstone of any lasting peace in the world. As the International Criminal Court (ICC) comes under renewed attack with further sanctions imposed by the United States today, this award should remind world leaders of the vital role that the ICC and other international criminal tribunals have to play in seeking justice, truth and reparation for crimes under international law and human rights violations that are being perpetrated every day from Palestine to Sudan, Myanmar to Ukraine. 

“From her early days as a young lawyer fighting apartheid in South Africa, Navi Pillay showed a courage and humanity that should inspire us all. Her life’s work has been a powerful challenge to impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide -- most recently while leading the landmark UN inquiry that found Israel responsible for genocide in Gaza.

"Navi Pillay’s richly deserved award is a collective win for those on the frontlines in the fight for human rights, who continue speaking out and standing up for justice, accountability and the rule of law." 

Background 

Navi Pillay started her career as a defence lawyer for anti-apartheid activists and was the first woman to open a law firm in what was then known as the Natal province in 1967. She went on to be appointed an acting judge in the High Court in South Africa in 1995 and in the same year was elected by the UN General Assembly to be a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where she served for eight years as president. She also served as an International Criminal Court judge from 2003 to 2008. In 2008, Navi Pillay was appointed as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. In 2021, she was appointed chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. She oversaw the UN report which found that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.  

Issued by Amnesty International