"Gives People Hope"

Navi Pillay speaks at the Nobel Peace Center Saturday
Navi Pillay speaks with Director Kjersti Fløgstad and Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes at the Nobel Peace Center Saturday. Photo: Mette Bruaas/Nobel Peace Center

"I have received thousands of messages from colleagues and ordinary people around the world, they all speak of the hope that this award gives them", said the new Nobel Peace Prize laureate Navi Pillay.

PublishedOct 10, 2026
AuthorIngvill Bryn Rambøl

Yesterday, it was announced that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to South African judge Navi Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law. When the prize was announced, she was sitting in the very courtroom where the Nuremberg trials took place after the Second World War.

On Saturday, she joined an event at the Nobel Peace Center via video link from Germany. Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, asked her what it was like to receive the news of the award in such a historic setting.

“As I was sitting in courtroom 600, I see that we are continuing the work that started here in Nurnberg, in such a way that we are delivering anew on the “never again promise”

The cry for justice didn’t end in the 1940s. People want justice now. And many see this award as a support for that call for justice”, Navi Pillay answered.

Nobel Diploma
The Nobel Diploma is an artwork by Sverre Bjertnæs. Photo: Mette Bruaas/Nobel Peace Center

During the event at the Nobel Peace Center, the artwork that will feature on this year’s Nobel Peace Prize diploma was unveiled. It was created by renowned Norwegian contemporary artist Sverre Bjertnæs.

“I think the motif is very fitting for this year’s laureate,” said the artist, who was present at the unveiling. He was commissioned to create the artwork before the identity of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate was known and was eager to find out who would receive the diploma. “The motif is about a new beginning, and about how fragile peace is,” said Sverre Bjertnæs.

Following the unveiling, Jørgen Watne Frydnes gave a talk on the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Navi Pillay, followed by a panel discussion with experts. The entire event is available to watch on the Nobel Peace Center’s website.