Nigeria, Oct. 9 -- South African jurist Navanethem "Navi" Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her longstanding efforts to ensure that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.

The Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday, praising the 85-year-old judge for her contributions to international justice and the protection of human rights.

Pillay previously headed the tribunal established to prosecute those responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She also chaired the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

The commission concluded last year that genocide was occurring in Gaza, a finding I...