Former UN human rights chief receives top peace award | DW News

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South African jurist Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for what the Norwegian Nobel Committee called her efforts to promote peace and international law. The 85-year-old former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights learned the news while attending a conference in Nuremberg, and said she initially thought it was a joke. Pillay chaired a UN commission of inquiry that concluded in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Pillay, accusing her of spreading false allegations against Israel. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Congratulations pour in for Navi Pillay 00:26 Pillay’s reaction to her 2026 Nobel Peace Prize 01:18 Statement by the Norwegian Nobel Committee 01:47 Why Pillay’s selection sparked controversy in Israel 02:20 Praise from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 02:57 How Pillay built a legal career in apartheid South Africa 0

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