CM Vijay hailed Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, the South African judge of Tamil origin who won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, as a tireless voice for human rights, peace and justice.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay congratulated Navanethem "Navi" Pillay, the South African jurist of Tamil origin, on winning the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. He posted his message on X on October 10, 2026, the day after the prize was announced (News Today).
Vijay called her “a tireless voice for human rights, world peace, and justice on the international stage”. He said her achievement had brought “boundless joy and pride” to Tamil people around the world. — CM Vijay on X, as reported by News Today
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday, October 9, 2026. It honoured Pillay "for her efforts to promote peace and international law". The prize is worth 12 million Swedish kronor, about $1.2 million (CBS News).
Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes said: "This is definitely a message to those who are undermining the international system and institutions." When she was told, Pillay first said, "It must be a joke," adding that as "a lawyer and a judge, I still want to verify this thing" (CBS News).
| Role | Details |
|---|---|
| Roots | South African, of Tamil descent. She began her career fighting apartheid in the courts (News Today). |
| Judge | Judge of South Africa's High Court (News Today). Judge of the International Criminal Court, 2003–2008 (CBS News). |
| United Nations | UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She later chaired a UN Commission of Inquiry (CBS News). |
| Now | Ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice in the Gambia v. Myanmar case (CBS News). |
Vijay's message put Pillay's achievement in the context of the Tamil diaspora. He said her journey from fighting apartheid in South African courts to the world stage was a source of pride for Tamils everywhere.
Sources: News Today; CBS News; TIME.
Tamil Pride Nobel Peace Prize Navi Pillay Day 153