Last Updated on October 9, 2026 6:33 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
AMN/ WEB DESK
South African jurist of Indian origin Navanethem Navi Pillay has won the Nobel Peace Prize today for her contributions to promoting peace and international law.
A former UN human rights chief and a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pillay grew up under apartheid and went on to build a career defending anti-apartheid activists and advancing human rights and equality.
Born in Durban in 1941, to Indian parents of Tamil descent, she later became the first Black woman to serve as a judge on South Africa’s High Court.
She also served as a judge and president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, a judge at the International Criminal Court and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.
The Nobel Peace Prize is widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious honours. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize.