Former UN human rights chief and International Court of Justice judge Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
The South African judge was recognised "for her efforts to promote peace and international law," the Nobel Committee said, lauding her work that paved the way toward a more comprehensive global legal order.
Pillay, 85, has spent decades tackling alleged human‑rights violations in Rwanda, Myanmar, Gaza and other conflict zones. She once defended anti‑apartheid activists in South Africa, and became the country’s first non‑white woman appointed to the high court.
"Navi Pillay’s commitment to universal legal principles is a constant in a long career," said chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes. He added that international law is "an absolute necessity" amid rising wars and conflicts that are often aggravated by climate‑driven resource scarcity.
Pillay now serves on the International Court of Justice in the case involving Myanmar’s alleged genocide against the Rohingya. Her work demonstrates how robust legal frameworks can hold states accountable and deter climate‑related violence.
The award comes as climate change is increasingly linked to insecurity; scholars warn that fragile societies confronting displacement and resource competition are at higher risk of armed conflict. Pillay’s recognition highlights that protecting human rights and enforcing international law are essential tools for building climate‑resilient communities.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa praised her as a pioneering defence attorney who "upheld human dignity and brought hope both in South Africa and to peoples globally".
UN human rights chief Volker Turk also welcomed the honor, calling it a reaffirmation that justice is fundamental to peace, security, and prosperity—all values under strain in an era of rapid climate change.
With climate change intensifying conflict risks, Pillay’s Nobel Peace Prize underscores that a global community committed to the rule of law can help mitigate the human toll of a warming planet.
