We sincerely congratulate Navi Pillay on being awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
A lifelong advocate of international legal principles, Judge Pillay began her career in South Africa, where she defended anti-apartheid activists and opened the first law practice run by a woman in Natal. She went on to serve on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which she also presided over, then on the International Criminal Court, and later as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her path reminds us how much justice and human dignity depend on those who are willing to stand up for them.
Judge Pillay was a friend and colleague of our founder, President M. Cherif Bassiouni, and we were honored to welcome her in Siracusa in 2006 and 2007, during the visits of the judges of the ICC. Those occasions are a cherished part of our history. Speaking with her and listening to her story gave us a real sense of her dedication and tenacity. If the Nobel Peace Prize holds a value today, she is fully deserving of it.
Her courage and commitment inspire us every day in our own mission: to contribute to international peace and security through the effective implementation of criminal law, and to promote the rule of law and the protection of human rights in criminal justice systems around the world.
