The prize committee noted that she has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted. Born into a family of Indian Tamil origin under apartheid in Durban, South Africa, Pillay became a lawyer and legal pioneer, confronting deep structural discrimination, segregation, and exclusion. A common thread runs from her early work defending Nelson Mandela and others who stood up against apartheid to her service as a judge in some of the key international court cases of our time She has served as a judge on the High Court in South Africa, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and the International Criminal Court. She was the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and, until recently, she chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Today Pillay is a judge on the International Court of Justice in the case where Myanmar stands accused of genocide In historic international court cases, she has shown that legal measures can help prevent acts of war and violence. Pillay has also contributed to strengthen the institutions of international law. “Navi Pillay is a well-deserved recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize,” said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. "She is known for her courage, convictions, and outstanding work in upholding international law and principles.” He noted that Navi Pillay has never hesitated in linking peace to the call for justice and truth. “The WCC is very proud to have worked with her at times and appreciated the value she placed in the role of religion in addressing global challenges,” he said. “We offer her our heartfelt congratulations and take pleasure and delight in the honour duly accorded to her for her many years of service and contributions in the areas of justice and peace.” Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, also warmly welcomed the award to Navi Pillay for her work to promote the rule of law, and to strengthen the institutions of international law. “In her various roles – as a judge on the High Court of South Africa, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and the International Criminal Court, as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and as chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory – Navi Pillay has been one of the most prominent leaders in the field of international human rights and humanitarian law, and as the Norwegian Nobel Committee has affirmed, peace requires justice,” said Prove. “The WCC has just concluded a major international consultation in which we recalled the focus in ecumenical social ethics on promoting international law for the protection of vulnerable people, communities and nations against violence and abuse by the powerful. Throughout her career, Navi Pillay has advanced and defended this shared commitment.” | 
