Navi Pillay Wins $1.2 Million Nobel Peace Prize for War Crimes Prosecution
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Oct 9
Navi Pillay Wins $1.2 Million Nobel Peace Prize for War Crimes Prosecution
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Oct 9
Summary
Navanethem "Navi" Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, with the Norwegian Nobel Committee citing her role in bringing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide to prosecution.
Pillay, 85, built that record across South Africa's High Court, the Rwanda tribunal, the International Criminal Court and the UN human rights office, after beginning as an anti-apartheid lawyer in Durban.
Jørgen Watne Frydnes called her a "courageous" force in developing international law and said the committee had not yet reached her, joking that she should answer any call from a Norwegian number.
The prize carries 12 million Swedish crowns, or about $1.2 million, and comes after last year's unusual controversy over laureate Marina Corina Machado's attempt to give her award to Donald Trump.