Press Release
October 9, 2026
Washington, D.C., October 9, 2026 – Navi Pillay, the acclaimed South African human rights lawyer, has won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous work advocating for justice and accountability for human rights atrocities around the world, including through her leadership roles in the United Nations and other international institutions.
Bobbie Sta. Maria, Executive Director of EarthRights International, said, “We applaud the Nobel Committee for selecting Navi Pillay, whose work has long been a source of inspiration for human rights lawyers at EarthRights and for other human rights defenders around the world. Her selection is an important reminder of how peace and prosperity in this world depend so heavily on the courageous work of human rights defenders, from the local to the international level, who risk their lives to speak truth to power and seek accountability when injustices occur.”
Last year, Pillay led a United Nations inquiry that concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. On the same day as the Nobel Committee’s announcement, the Trump administration announced sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), where Pillay had previously served as a judge. In February 2025, the U.S. government began issuing a series of sanctions against the ICC, specific ICC judges, and UN officials, especially those who have investigated alleged atrocities by the Government of Israel in Gaza.
Bobbie Sta. Maria said, “The U.S. government’s sanctions against the ICC are the latest in a clear pattern of hostility toward international norms, institutions, and human rights protections. The administration has repeatedly misused counter-terrorism laws and other punitive powers held by the government not to seek justice, but to evade accountability and retaliate against its perceived political opponents. The contrast between Navi Pillay’s distinguished career upholding international law and the administration’s vindictive use of power could not be more stark. On this day to honor and celebrate Navi Pillay, we stand with human rights advocates around the world in condemning these actions against the International Criminal Court.”