Stories
Navanethem Pillay becomes first Tamil woman to win Nobel Prize
- •Navanethem Pillay has been awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for her work in international law and human rights.
- •She made history as the first woman of Tamil origin to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
- •She famously fought against apartheid in South Africa and argued in court for Nelson Mandela.
- •She previously served as a judge of the International Criminal Court and as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Key Questions Answered
Navanethem "Navi" Pillay, a South African jurist of Tamil descent, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to peace, international law, and human rights. Born in Durban in 1941 to Indian immigrant parents, she became the first woman to study law in South Africa's Natal province and a pioneer in human rights.
Navanethem Pillay served as a judge on the International Criminal Court from 2003 to 2008 and as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014. During her tenure, she championed minority rights, investigated war crimes, and addressed human rights violations globally.
During the apartheid regime, Navanethem Pillay fought against racial discrimination by representing political activists, prisoners, and freedom fighters in court. Notably, she argued for Nelson Mandela and defended her husband Gaby Pillay after he was placed in solitary confinement for his anti-apartheid activism.
