Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize for a career defending international law
South African jurist Navi Pillay has won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on peace and international law. The committee highlighted her contributions to prosecuting genocide and sexual violence. Her career spans apartheid-era defence work, international courts and the United Nations. Israel condemned the choice, rejecting the Gaza findings of the inquiry she previously led.
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Pillay’s Nobel honours work on prosecuting international crimes
South African jurist Navanethem Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on 9 October for her work promoting peace and international law. The Norwegian Nobel Committee highlighted her contributions to prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Pillay, a former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, is 85. The committee announced its choice in Oslo, placing international legal institutions at the centre of this year’s award.[1], [2], [3]
Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes described international legal institutions as facing pressure and said the decision addressed those undermining them. Pillay received the news at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany, where Nazi leaders were tried after the Second World War. The prize carries 12 million Swedish crowns, and the presentation ceremony is held in Oslo on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.[2], [3]
Her legal career began under apartheid
Pillay was born into a family of Indian Tamil origin in Durban, South Africa, under apartheid, the system of racial segregation. As a lawyer she defended Nelson Mandela and other opponents of that system. In 1967 she became the first woman to open a law practice in the province then called Natal. She later became the first woman of colour to serve on South Africa’s High Court.[1], [3]
She served on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and then the International Criminal Court. The Nobel Committee singled out her influence in the Rwanda tribunal’s recognition that rape and sexual violence could constitute genocide and crimes against humanity. It also credited her with contributing to legal advances on incitement to genocide through propaganda. Pillay served at the International Criminal Court from 2003 to 2008 before becoming UN human rights chief.[1], [2]
Israel condemns the choice over her Gaza inquiry
Pillay chaired the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which concluded last year that Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to genocide. Israel rejected that finding. Its Foreign Ministry condemned the Nobel award and accused the committee of legitimising anti-Israel prejudice. Pillay now serves as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice, the court hearing disputes between states, in Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar over the Rohingya Muslim minority.[2]
