IN PICS | 10 things to know about Tamil-origin Nobel Peace winner Navi Pillay

South African jurist of Indian origin Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, 85, a former UN human rights chief, won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law. She dedicated the award to survivors of international crimes and those defending international justice. | AP

Born in Durban on September 23, 1941, to parents of Tamil descent, she grew up under apartheid. | X

In 1967, she became the first woman of colour to establish a law practice in South Africa’s Natal Province, defending anti-apartheid activists and challenging racial discrimination. | X

She helped advance equality and human rights in post-apartheid South Africa, including through efforts to shape the country’s Constitution. | X

As a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, she served on the landmark case against former mayor Jean-Paul Akayesu, whose conviction helped establish the recognition of sexual violence as an act of genocide. | AP

She served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, advancing international accountability for human rights violations. | AP

During a 2013 visit to Sri Lanka, she warned of growing authoritarianism and a weakening rule of law four years after the civil war. In Jaffna, Tamil families told her about missing relatives, military occupation of land and inadequate basic facilities. | AP

In September 2025, a UN-backed commission chaired by Pillay concluded that Israeli authorities and security forces had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. | AP

She has served as a judge at the International Court of Justice in the case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar under the Genocide Convention. | AP

Her career has focused on holding states and leaders accountable under international law and advancing justice for victims of violence and discrimination. | X