Last week we reflected on a sombre global milestone – the third anniversary of the Israel-Gaza conflict sparked by the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023.
The gist of our editorial comment was that, three years down the line, the prospect for an Israel-Palestine peaceful settlement seems like a chimera – out of reach. And, unfortunately for global peace, there are around 60 other ongoing conflicts around the world that simply seem to go on and on without any end in sight. The global security and stability landscape is not looking good at all with the ongoing surge of violence on a scale not seen since the post-World War II era.
It is against this gloomy backdrop that Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, an 85-year-old South African jurist an a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was honoured for her life-long commitment to peace and international law. The Nobel Committee could not have chosen a more deserving and appropriate recipient for the Nobel Peace Prize at this critical juncture for the world. The time is also right as multilateral institutions, including those Pillay has worked for, have been weakened and undermined and war crimes and crimes against humanity go largely unpunished. “Strongmen” and great powers of the world seem to prevail with their murderous calculations over the long-established international rules.
As we celebrate and congratulate Pillay, we realise that she and all those working towards peace and justice for the world have their work cut out for them. But the Nobel Peace Prize award will give them strength to carry on the long struggle, fly South Africa’s flag a little higher and lend to it some much-needed moral support. Indeed, the prize is confirmation – if anyone needed it – that South Africa is on the right side of history on the Israel-Palestine issue as well as on mattes of global peace and justice, and the need for restoring a rules-based international order.
May this prize give Pillay and others more energy and courage to continue the long walk she has been on throughout her decades-long career fighting for peace and justice in our world. It was a pleasant surprise to see her being honoured in such a magnificent manner, but it was no accident or mistake when one considers those who have walked this long and treacherous path and been similarly honoured before her. She joins a steadily growing distinguished list of fighters for peace from South Africa headed by the majestic Inkosi Albert Luthuli. And, as the only woman in that list, Pillay occupies a special place.