“Justice is integral to peace.”
That was the message from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Judge Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay after she was recognised for her decades-long fight for human rights and international law.
Reflecting on her initial reaction to the award, Pillay, 85, said she was surprised and did not believe it at first.
“Of course I am deeply honoured to be awarded this prize, and I’ll be very glad if in any way it generates much-needed support for the rule of law. Justice is integral to peace,” Pillay said.
Despite US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criticism of her award, Pillay simply said that she has worked for justice and human rights all her life, for everyone everywhere. Therefore, she will continue to do that.
Pillay was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her efforts to promote peace and international law.
“This year’s laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted,” the Nobel Prize said.
Pillay recalled learning of the award while sitting in a courtroom, staring in disbelief when colleagues first saw the news before watching the official announcement herself.
She said she felt "total surprise" and was "deeply, deeply honoured and touched."
"I know it's a personal award, but for me mainly, it’s for all the institutions I served on as well, all the people I worked with as well,” Pillay said in an interview with the Nobel Prize.
“I had absolutely no hint, nothing. Maybe that's the best part of getting a surprise announcement: you had absolutely no idea. And so, it’s overwhelming, deeply emotional for me," she said shortly after being notified of her win.
The former UN rights chief and Nobel Peace Prize laureate is a trailblazing global human rights defender. Born in Durban to a Tamil family under apartheid rule, she became the first woman of colour to open a law firm in the city, securing legal access for Robben Island political prisoners in 1973.
Appointed South Africa’s first non-white woman High Court judge in 1994, her international career includes serving on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, holding the post of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2008–2014), presiding over a UN commission of inquiry on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and acting as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice.
Lifelong friend Dolly Pillay, 84, who has known Pillay for roughly 78 years, recalled their shared upbringing in Clairwood and lifelong bond through school and university, remembering her as exceptionally intelligent and humble from a young age.
“She’s such a humble person. She still lives in the Overport area; she loves the place,” Dolly said. “When she first moved, they had a huge room upstairs; she let it out, and we went and did yoga there.
“She can afford the best homes in the best areas, but she’s with the community. She’s just the most amazing person. As a friend... I just have the greatest admiration."