AfBA congratulates Navi Pillay on Nobel Peace Prize

The African Bar Association (AfBA) has congratulated Judge Navi Pillay on her announcement as the winner of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

AfBA President, Mr Ibrahim Mark, described Pillay as a distinguished jurist and internationally respected advocate for human rights, justice, equality and human dignity.

In his congratulatory message, Mark commended Pillay’s contributions to humanity and her continued advocacy for human rights and peaceful coexistence among nations and peoples.

He said her work remained a source of inspiration to legal practitioners, judicial officers, human rights defenders and future generations across Africa and beyond.

Mark added that Pillay’s remarkable career and lifelong commitment to human rights would continue to inspire the legal profession and people worldwide.

He recalled that Pillay served as a keynote speaker at the Association’s Renaissance Conference held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 2016.

According to him, her participation in the conference remained a cherished memory and reflected the Association’s longstanding relationship with distinguished figures committed to justice and the rule of law.

Pillay made history as the first Black woman appointed to the High Court of South Africa.

She subsequently served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, where she played a significant role in advancing the global human rights agenda.

Throughout her career, Pillay has championed justice, accountability, equality and the protection of fundamental freedoms.