THE HAGUE, Netherlands: Navi Pillay, the South African-born jurist who recently received the Nobel Peace Prize, said in an interview with The Associated Press that she initially struggled to believe the news of her award. “I received the letter in writing … so now I have read it for myself, and it’s true,” the 85-year-old said.
Her distinguished career has included defending imprisoned anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, leading a UN commission that found Israel committed genocide in Gaza, and serving as a judge on multiple international courts. “To be honored for that kind of work is tremendous, not only for me, but for all my colleagues,” Pillay noted.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee highlighted the importance of international law as Pillay’s win coincided with the 125th anniversary of the prize’s establishment. Committee Chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes emphasized that “peace requires justice” and underscored the role of the rule of law in maintaining global stability.
Pillay’s selection has been interpreted as a pointed acknowledgment of her commitment to international legal standards, particularly amid criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding her commission’s findings on Gaza. Both leaders have publicly rejected the conclusions of the UN commission she led and have expressed skepticism toward international judicial bodies such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
Calling Washington’s stance toward the ICC “completely unlawful” as well as “negative and cruel,” Pillay emphasized the responsibility of world leaders to uphold legal norms. “Heads of countries have a particular responsibility to spell out the principles, which is that you respect the law, you respect international law,” she said.
Shortly after her Nobel Prize announcement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio imposed new sanctions on the ICC, where Pillay previously served as a judge. She responded by urging nations to support not only the court but the broader international legal framework, advocating for “collective action, not just words” from the global community.
Criticism of impunity, according to Pillay, resonates across populations worldwide. She pointed out the contradiction of powerful nations like Russia and the United States remaining outside the ICC while holding permanent seats on the UN Security Council, thereby shielding themselves from accountability mechanisms.
She also addressed backlash from Israel over her leadership of the UN commission investigating Gaza, stating, “We just have this condemnation by the state of Israel because they are the ones that we have held responsible.” Pillay dismissed the notion that widespread criticism undermines the legitimacy of those findings, noting alignment between the commission’s conclusions and assessments by human rights organizations and genocide scholars.
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu on charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel maintains its denial of all accusations.
Despite current global challenges, Pillay reflected on the relatively recent emergence of formalized international law in human history. “Justice is slow, so we must not be impatient,” she remarked. She encouraged citizens to adopt a judicial mindset by avoiding misinformation and verifying facts before drawing conclusions.
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