Navi Pillay wins 2026 Nobel Peace prize for efforts to promote international law — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to South African jurist and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem “Navi” Pillay in recognition of her efforts to promote peace and international law. Announcing the award on Friday, the committee said Pillay had played a significant role in advancing international justice and ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted. “The system of international law is under tremendous pressure, and its institutions are under attack,” the committee said, warning of a growing shift towards power politics at the expense of legal frameworks and respect for international law. Pillay, 85, was born in Durban, South Africa, to a family of Indian Tamil origin. She built a distinguished legal career during and after apartheid, defending Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists. In 1967, she became the first woman to establish a law practice in South Africa’s then Natal Province. She was later appointed to South Africa’s High Court, becoming the first woman of colour to serve on the court, according to the Nobel Committee. Pillay subsequently served as a judge and president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1999 to 2003. During her tenure, she contributed to landmark legal developments recognising that rape and sexual violence can constitute crimes against…