2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay expressed her support for the international legal community during a visit to The Hague yesterda. During a meeting with Mayor Jan van Zanen at the Old City Hall, the former ICC judge emphasized the importance of the work of everyone who dedicates themselves daily to peace, law, and justice.
“The Hague holds a special place in my heart. I have had the privilege of working here and have seen firsthand the dedication with which people commit themselves daily to peace, law, and justice. My visit is, above all, a show of support for their important work,” said Pillay. “At a time when the principles of international law are being put to the test worldwide, the work of those committed to international justice is more important than ever.”
The meeting took place shortly after the Nobel Committee announced that Pillay had been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her lifelong commitment to human rights, international law, and the fight against impunity.
Congratulations on behalf of The Hague
Mayor Jan van Zanen congratulated Pillay on behalf of The Hague, the international City of Peace and Justice, and praised her contribution to international jurisprudence and human rights.
“Throughout her career, Navi Pillay has dedicated herself to people who were victims of war, oppression, and injustice,” said Van Zanen. “Her work shows that international justice is not an abstract ideal, but an indispensable instrument for the protection of human dignity and the rule of law.”
Pillay learned the news about the Nobel Prize during the Nuremberg Forum in Nuremberg, a city closely linked to the development of modern international criminal justice after the Second World War.
Meaning
Her subsequent visit to The Hague holds special significance. From 2003 to 2008, she served as a judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and, from The Hague, contributed to the further development of the international legal order.
During a visit to the ICC last week, she expressed her appreciation for the dedication of the staff and emphasized the continuing importance of international justice in the fight against impunity and for the protection of victims worldwide.
Navi Pillay also expressed her appreciation for the support The Hague continues to provide to the international legal system. “Mayor Van Zanen’s strong commitment to international justice and his continued support for the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is encouraging,” said Pillay.
About Navi Pillay
Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay (1941) is a South African jurist and one of the most respected human rights defenders in the world. In 1995, she was appointed by Nelson Mandela as the first black female judge of the South African High Court. Subsequently, she held prominent positions within the international legal order, including President of the Rwanda Tribunal, Judge of the International Criminal Court, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Since 2019, she has been an Ad Hoc Judge at the International Court of Justice.
With the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, a lifetime of commitment to human rights, international justice, and the rule of law is recognized worldwide.
Source: Gemeente Den Haag
Photos: Martijn Beekman, Gemeente Den Haag
Translation to English: The Hague Online
Featured: Mayor Jan van Zanen presented Nobel Prize winner Navi Pillay with an etching of the Peace Palace during her visit.
Below: Flanked by the South African ambassador, Navi Pillay, recipient of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, entered into conversation with Mayor Jan van Zanen of The Hague.
