South African jurist Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The United Nations reported the announcement on 9 October, highlighting her work in human rights and international justice.
Pillay previously served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and as president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Her career also included legal work against apartheid in South Africa.
In a statement welcoming the award, UN Secretary-General António Guterres connected her work with the defence of international law and accountability. He described the prize as recognition of people working for justice, human dignity and peace. The linked UN statement provides the organisation’s account of her career and its response to the award.