Navanethem "Navi" Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 as chosen by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday, October 9, 2026.
"The chairman of the committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, announced the prize in Oslo," said the citation. She was honored for "her work for peace and international law." This is the 125th Nobel Peace Prize.
In response to the announcement, Pillay said jokingly that she might "share the prize with Trump," citing a CNN video news report. The complete comments of hers could not be found in the sources examined.
This jest is made against a longer background.
Trump has publicly sought the prize and was nominated by multiple parties. Commenting on how the previous year's prize went to Venezuela's María Corina Machado, the White House communications director claimed that the committee "proved they place politics over peace," NBC News said.
Pillay was referred to as someone who "has shown with exceptional courage and integrity the way towards a more comprehensive global legal order."
She was instrumental in making sure that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide were being prosecuted.
As reported by CBC, Frydnes referred to her as "one of the most respected international jurists of our time."
Pillay is an international lawyer, judge, and human rights advocate who worked as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and at the International Criminal Court.
The committee stressed her work at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and her contribution to the establishment that rape and sexual violence are acts constituting war crimes.
Until now, Pillay was head of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, according to the committee.
She is currently a judge at the International Court of Justice in the case of charges against Myanmar of genocide.
According to one media outlet, Yeni Safak, the Nobel award is a tribute to the commission’s investigation of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
This is what the media outlet claims. The Nobel Committee itself, in its press release, mentions the commission investigation, but without mentioning the charge.
Committee explained its wish “to remind the world that the rule of law, domestic and international, is at the base of the structure that we have created to keep peace.” It further stated that “through the systematic promotion of the use of tribunals for peace and justice,” Pillay infuses modern peace conferences with meaning and purpose.
The CNN’s live broadcast featured one expert who stated that committee was “daring to be brave” with its selection.
This was the fifth Nobel Prize awarded during the current week. This award came after the literature, chemistry, physics, and medicine prizes, according to CBC.
Economics will be the sixth prize on Monday.
Unfortunately, the information covered did not contain a complete transcript of Pillay’s speech.
Her reaction was captured on video in Germany, according to CBC.
There were no government reactions to the award contained in the information covered, particularly from the U.S.
Pillay will be awarded the prize in the ceremony held in Oslo on December 10, as stated in the Wikipedia entry of the award for 2026.
