South African human rights lawyer Navi Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her lifelong work defending human rights and strengthening international law. The 85-year-old jurist began her legal career defending Nelson Mandela and fighting against apartheid in South Africa. She later played a key role in building global institutions that hold war criminals accountable.
The Nobel Committee chose Pillay to highlight that international legal systems are currently under severe pressure worldwide. Pillay learned about her award while attending a legal conference in Nuremberg, Germany. Speaking to reporters, she warned that threats against international law and courts are worsening.
The prize comes during a difficult moment for global legal bodies. Hours after the announcement, the United States imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where Pillay previously served as a judge. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also criticized the award because Pillay recently led a United Nations commission reporting on the conflict in Gaza. However, South Africans celebrated her historic achievement as she became the fifth person from South Africa, and the first woman, to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.