CELEBRATIONS are in order for the community of Clairwood as one of their own, Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, 85, became the 125th recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize today (October 9).

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The historic announcement was made by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo, where the committee said that Pillay was being recognised for her vast work in promoting peace and international law. The former UN human rights commissioner is the first South African woman to win this award.

Notable accolades

Pillay is most notably known for her decades of work in strengthening international law and helping ensure war crimes and genocide were rightfully prosecuted. She served as a judge and president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, as the chairperson of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory from 2021 to 2025, and in 2019 she became an ad hoc judge on the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Pillay’s reaction

Pillay, who found out the news through the media, said that she was taken by surprise.

“It was a total surprise, I am deeply honoured and touched. More by the criteria you selected me for. So I know it’s a personal award, but for me, mainly it’s for all the institutions I served on as well. All the people I worked with as well,” she said.

Many organisations are revelling in the announcement as she joins four other South Africans among recipients of the award.

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