New Delhi, Oct 9: The Nobel Peace Prize 2026 has been awarded to Navanethem "Navi" Pillay.

A South African of Indian Tamil origin, Pillay was the first non-white woman judge of the High Court of South Africa.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law, read a statement.

The 85-year-old is a jurist served as the United Nations (UN) human rights chief from 2008 to 2014. She has also served as a judge of the International Criminal Court and president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

“Navi Pillay’s commitment to universal legal principles and her firm moral compass are constants in a long career. Born into a family of Indian Tamil origin under apartheid in Durban, South Africa, Pillay became a lawyer and legal pioneer, confronting 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,” the statement said.

In historic international court cases, she has shown that legal measures can help prevent acts of war and violence. Navi Pillay has also contributed to strengthen the institutions of international law. Her independence, expertise and steadfastness have made her one of the most respected international jurists of our time.