The committee announced Pillay as the laureate on Friday, October 9, highlighting her lifelong commitment to defending human rights and pursuing justice at the international level.
Early in her legal career, Pillay defended Nelson Mandela and others who opposed apartheid in South Africa. She later served as a judge in international courts and played a role in significant international cases.
Pillay also chaired a United Nations commission of inquiry into the occupied Palestinian territory. The commission concluded in a report last year that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Israel rejected the report, describing it as shameful.
According to the Nobel Committee, Pillay has worked throughout her career to hold states and national leaders accountable and has offered hope to victims of violence and conflict. The committee also highlighted her commitment to strong ethical principles.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan had nominated US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts to secure a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May 2025.
In a post on social media platform X, Sharif praised Trump's role in promoting peace in South Asia and expressed hope that his efforts to prevent conflicts in the region would also receive recognition.
The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize is the fifth Nobel award announced this week, following the announcements in literature, chemistry, physics and medicine. Venezuela's opposition leader María Corina Machado received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize is worth 12 million Swedish kronor, approximately $1.2 million, and will be presented in Oslo, Norway, on December 10.
