Navi Pillay: “I dedicate the Nobel Peace Prize to survivors of international crimes” ... Delivers a sharp rebuke from a historic courtroom for war-crimes trials (Roundup)

[Financial News] “We live in an era when international law and human rights are under serious political attack. I want to convey the message that political leaders have a legal duty to protect human rights and refrain from waging war.”
Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, 85, a South African-born ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, delivered a stern rebuke to leaders around the world on the 9th (local time) from the historic courtroom in Nuremberg, Germany, where Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes in the immediate aftermath of World War II.
Pillay learned she had won the Nobel Prize while attending an event at the Nuremberg Forum that day. At a press conference, she reflected, “Perhaps it was fate that I was in this historic courtroom when I heard the news.” She said, “I want to dedicate this award to all survivors of international crimes,” and paid tribute to the victims of horrific conflicts.


Judge Pillay, who has devoted her life to establishing an international justice system, strongly criticized the current state of international law, which is being shaken by political interests. Expressing concern, she said, “The worsening reality is particularly evident in the recent attacks on the International Criminal Court (ICC),” and appealed for global solidarity to defend the rule of law.
This was a pointed criticism of the recent situation in which U.S. President Donald Trump has applied overt pressure on the ICC, calling it a “rogue organization” and urging member states to withdraw. Judge Pillay strongly urged world leaders to respect international judicial institutions and fulfill their fundamental legal obligation to refrain from waging war.
Judge Pillay began her career as a human rights lawyer, representing anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela, under South Africa’s apartheid regime. She later served as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the ICC, and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, devoting her life to establishing accountability for war crimes and genocide. More recently, as chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, she investigated human rights abuses and possible violations of international law in the Gaza war. She currently serves as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ in the case concerning the genocide of the Rohingya people in Myanmar.

Even amid grim realities, she did not lose her characteristic wit or conviction. When she first heard the news of her win amid applause from her colleagues, she quipped, “If you applaud just a little longer, I may have to share this prize with President Trump,” drawing laughter with a joke at the expense of Trump, who has long yearned to win the Peace Prize.
She also referred to the tributes to her courage that poured in over her report describing the situation in Gaza as genocide, and said pointedly, “I was surprised that it takes courage to tell the truth.” She added, “All you have to do is interpret the law, examine the facts, and make a fair decision,” and expressed firm resolve, saying, “I’m 85, but I can’t stop helping good people.”
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