Navi Pillay, a former International Criminal Court judge, has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The 85-year-old South African jurist, who also served on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, was honored “for her efforts to promote peace and international law.” The Nobel committee said her recognition underscores the importance of protecting international legal institutions amid mounting pressure on the global rules-based order. Pillay also chaired the UN commission of inquiry that concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, a finding Israel rejected. Pillay is the fifth South African to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Her career includes defending Nelson Mandela and challenging apartheid-era injustices. She is currently serving on the International Court of Justice in a case involving allegations of genocide against Myanmar.