Navi Pillay

**Navanethem** "**Navi**" **Pillay** (née **Naidoo**; dem born am 23 September 1941) be South African jurist wey serve as de *[[:en:United_Nations|United Nations]] [[:en:High_Commissioner_for_Human_Rights|High Commissioner for Human Rights]]* from 2008 to 2014. A South African of Indian Tamil origin, Pillay be de first non-white woman judge of de High Court of South Africa. She sanso serve as a judge of de International Criminal Court den President of de  International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Ein four-year term as High Commissioner give Human Rights begin for 1 September 2008 top den dem extend am additional two years for 2012 insyd. For September 2014 insyd, Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad succeed am for ein position as High Commissioner give Human Rights insyd. For April 2015 insyd, Pillay becam de 16th Commissioner of de *[[:en:International_Commission_Against_the_Death_Penalty|International Commission Against the Death Penalty]]*. She sanso be one of de 25 leading figures for de Information den Democracy Commission top wey Reporters Without Borders launch am.

Dem born den raise Pillay for Durban, South Africa insyd wey she later go de University of Natal, wey she receive ein Bachelor of Arts for 1963 insyd den ein Bachelor of Law for 1965 insyd. After university, Pillay pursue a career as an attorney den serve under criminal defense attorney N.T. Naicker, wey e join de legal defense against apartheid. For 1967 insyd, Pillay start ein own law firm den becam de first woman to do so for ein home province of Natal insyd. For 1981 insyd, Pillay apply to den go Harvard University under de foreign exchange Harvard-South Africa Scholarship Program den earn ein Master of Law. For 1988 insyd, she complete ein thesis den graduate from Harvard Law School plus a Doctorate of Jurisprudence.

Dem nominate den confirm Pillay to de High Court of South Africa by de Judicial Service Commission under supervision of de bar association for 1995 top. Towards de end of ein term, de Minister of Justice Abdullah Omar den President Mandela submit ein name as a nominee give de U.N. Security Council den a judge for de U.N. *International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda* (ICTR) for 1995 insyd. Between 1999 den 2003, Pillay serve for de ICTR den dem elect am President Judge. For 2003 insyd, de Assembly of States Parties to de Rome Statue of de ICC elect am as a judge for de International Criminal Court insyd den serve as member of de Appeals Chamber until 2008. For 2008 insyd, de Secretary General Ban Ki Moon appoint Pillay den de General Assembly of de U.N. approve am position as de U.N. High Commissioner give Human Rights.

She currently dey serve as an ad hoc judge of de International Court of Justice for ''The'' ''Gambia v Myanmar'' top*.* In addition, she be de Chair of de U.N. *I[[:en:Independent_International_Commission_of_Inquiry_on_the_Occupied_Palestinian_Territory|ndependent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory]]*, President of de *International Commission Against the Death Penalty* for Madrid insyd, de President of de Advisory Council of de *[[:en:International_Nuremberg_Principles_Academy|International Nuremberg Principles Academy]]*, den de Chair of de Quasi-Judicial Inquiry into Detention for de *[[:en:North_Korea|Democratic People's Republic of Korea]]* insyd.

## Ein background

### Early childhood
Dem born Navanetham Nadoo to Narrainsamy Nadoo den Santhama Nadoo for 1941 insyd for a poor neighborhood of Durban, Natal Province, Union of South Africa insyd of Indian Tamil descent. Ein grandparents cam from India as indentured servants to work on South African sugar plantations insyd Natal for de 1890s insyd. Ein parents get arranged marriage during demma early teens den get eight kiddies, de fifth be Pillay. Narrainsamy be bus-driver by trade den take up oda jobs such as fishing to supplement demma income while Santhama be homemaker. De two raise demma family plus strong Hindu values, wey e dey emphasize equality between de men den women for de family insyd. While most of Pillay ein counterparts during elementary school marry off, ein parents insist she den ein two oda sisters go school like demma brothers. At de time, der wer more kiddies for South Africa insyd dan der wer spots for schools insyd. Adamant for dey ensure education give all ein kiddies top, Pillay ein mummie fi wait for long admission lines insyd, wey e use de birth certificates of ein older kiddies to get ein younger kiddies for school insyd. Plus limited money give school supplies, Santhama Pillay fi stitch togeda notebooks give ein younger kiddies, wey e use blank pages from de used notebooks of ein elder kiddies.

### Elementary den high school
For school insyd, Pillay experience an environment completely wey be different dan ein home life, wey e learn a new religion for new language insyd. Despite demma personal beliefs, dem prohibit teachers strictly from addressing politics, wey dey include apartheid, out of fear dat de school administration fi retaliate.

Pillay get ein first encounter plus de law wen she dey five years old den testify for court insyd after dem rob am of 5 pounds. Ein mummie give am de money to give to ein poppie as dem money be ein wages give de month. While dem convict de subject, de court no return de money to ein poppie.

Pillay receive many accolades give ein writing during ein early childhood. Wen she dey 10 years old, Pillay write an in-class essay for how black individuals receive heavier sentences dan demma white counterparts for South African courts insyd wey dem use information she get overheard from ein parents den teachers since she no fi access radios anaa newspapers. At age 14, Pillay submit an essay for why South Africans should buy South-African made commerce to a competition wey de Durban Chamber of Commerce hold am, later she receive a bronze medal give ein work. At 15, Pillay publish an essay for de role of women insyd dey instill values for kiddies insyd wey earn am award of books from de *Jewish Women's Union*.

### College years den beyond
Donations from de local Indian community support am, she graduate from de University of Natal plus a BA for 1963 insyd den an LLB for 1965 insyd. De citizens of Clairwood support am, de Durban City Council, den a scholarship from de university. During ein years at de University of Natal, de campus be extremely politically active. Dem segregate most classes den graduations wey infuriate many students for campus top. Under apartheid, dem force Pillay to share wat limited resources dem give amongst all non-white students at de university. She once get to share a required textbook for a non-white library insyd plus 20 of ein oda non-white classmates. For 1959 insyd, South Africa pass de Separate Universities Act wey force previously de-segregated universities to re-segregate. As a result, dem force Pillay to transfer to de nearest non-white university, University at Salisbury Island, after ein first year of university. While de University of Natal offer an LLB program, University at Salisbury Island no offer. She file give an exemption plus Minister of Justice, wey e call de office directly after dey receive no response den be then able to return to Natal wey she fi finish ein degree. She later attend Harvard Law School, wey e obtain an LLM for 1982 insyd den a Doctor of Juridical Science degree for 1988 insyd. Pillay be de first South African to obtain a doctorate for law insyd from Harvard Law School.

She meet ein husband Paranjothee “Gaby” Anthony Pillay for 1962 insyd as de first lawyer she offer a contract of articles to. For January 1965 insyd, de two marry, eventually dey go on to have two daughters.

## Ein legal career
Pillay spend much of ein legal career dey advocate give de preservation of international human rights law, plus a special focus for crimes top wey dey regard rape den sexual violence. She be very involve for de anti-apartheid movement insyd, wey e defend political opponents of apartheid for demma cases against de state give poor prison conditions den de wrongful use of torture.

### Ein shadow work
After e graduate University of Natal, Pillay get de choice of becoming an advocate anaa an attorney. Pillay choose to pursue a legal career as an attorney wey require two years of service as an attorney before becoming an admitted attorney. She serve under N.T. Naiker for two years, a member of de African National Congress. Naiker often be under house arrest den rely on Pillay to testify give ein clients for courts insyd. For 1967 insyd, Pillay becam one of three women attorneys admit den de first non-white woman to open ein own law practice for Natal Province insyd. She say she get no oda alternative: No law firm would employ me because dem say dem no fi not take white employees wey e take instructions from a coloured person. As a non-white lawyer under de Apartheid regime, dem no allow am to enter a judge ein chambers. 

### Ein private practice
During ein 28 years as a lawyer for South Africa insyd, she defend anti-Apartheid activists of de African National Congress, de Unity Movement, de Black Consciousness Movement, den Azapo. She sanso help expose de use of torture den poor conditions of political detainees. Wen dem detain ein husband for 1971 insyd under de Terrorism Act, she successfully sue to prevent de police from using unlawful methods of interrogation against am. For 1973 insyd, she win de right give political prisoners for Robben Island top, wey dey include Nelson Mandela, to get access to lawyers for State v Kader Hassim insyd den 9 odas den State v *[[:en:Harry_Gwala|Harry Gwala]]* den 9 odas. While dey provide legal counsel, ein clients recommend she consult judges plus expertise for international law den humanitarian law insyd for demma cases top. Pillay then apply to den attend Harvard University for 1981 insyd under de foreign exchange Harvard-South Africa Scholarship Program den earn am Master of Law. De Harvard-South Africa Scholarship Program be foreign exchange program wey anti-apartheid activists for Harvard ein campus top create am. Dem demand dat if de university wer to continue to invest insyd companies dat do business plus South Africa under apartheid dat dem offer opportunities give South African students to study at Harvard. After e complete ein thesis, she graduate from Harvard Law School plus a Doctorate of Jurisprudence for 1988 insyd. She co-found de Advice Desk give de Abused den run a shelter give victims of domestic violence. As a member of de *[[:en:Women's_National_Coalition|Women's National Coalition]]*, she contribute to de inclusion for *South Africa's Constitution* of an equality clause insyd wey e prohibit discrimination for de grounds of race, religion den sexual orientation top. For 1992 insyd, she co-found de international women's rights group Equality Now.

### High Court of South Africa
For 1995 insyd, de year after de African National Congress cam to power, dem nominate den confirm Pillay to de High Court of South Africa by de President Nelson Mandela den de Judicial Service Commission under supervision of de bar association, wey e become de first non-white woman to serve for de court top. De Judicial Service Commission be group of jurists hand pick by de President to screen incoming candidates for de High Court of South Africa top den compile de list of nominees. Pillay ein connection plus Nelson Mandela during demma work against apartheid make am a familiar name to Mandela during ein presidency, wey he put am for de short-list give de nomination to de court. Shortly after ein appointment, President Nelson Mandela bell Pillay to personally congratulate am for ein judgeship top wey e state *“your appointment gives me great personal joy. I hope it soon will be important”*. She note dat *"the first time I entered a judge's chambers was when I entered my own."*

Ein tenure for de High Court be short, as de United Nations General Assembly elect am to serve as a judge at de *[[:en:International_Criminal_Tribunal_for_Rwanda|International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda]]* (ICTR) shortly after. 

## International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (1995-2003)
For 1995 insyd, de Minister of Justice Abdullah Omar den President Mandela submit Pillay ein name as a nominee give de U.N. Security Council den a judge for de *U.N. International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda* (ICTR) top. Between 1999 den 2003, Pillay serve for de ICTR top den dem elect am President Judge. She serve give eight years, wey dey include four years as president. She be de only female judge give de first four years of de tribunal. Ein tenure for de ICTR top be best remembered give ein role for de landmark trial of Jean-Paul Akayesu insyd, wey establish dat rape den sexual assault fi constitute acts of genocide. Pillay say for interview insyd dat, *"From time immemorial, rape has been regarded as spoils of war. Now it will be considered a war crime. We want to send out a strong signal that rape is no longer a trophy of war."* 

### Notable cases

#### Rape as a form of genocide
For de case of *The Prosecutor v Jean-Paul [[:en:Jean-Paul_Akayesu|Akayesu]]* for 2 September 1988 top, de court indict Akayesu for being individually responsible give death den harm of Tutsis during de Rwandan Genocide. E be during de case dat Pillay set an international legal precedent wey consider rape as a form of genocide den a crime against humanity. De court argue dat crimes against humanity no be define by demma discriminatory intent. Rather, dem consider an act a crime against humanity if e *"part of a widespread or systematic attack against any civilian population"*. For dis case, Akayesu be mayor of de Taba commune wey many Tutis women take refuge den purposefully instruct de militia group to target den rape civilian women. 

#### De role of media for inciting violence insyd
Pillay sanso serve for de *Prosecutor v [[:en:Ferdinand_Nahimana|Ferdinand Nahimana]], [[:en:Jean-Bosco_Barayagwiza|Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza]], [[:en:Hassan_Ngeze|Hassan Ngeze]]* trial top wey dey regard de role de *[[:en:Radio_Télévision_Libre_des_Mille_Collines|Radio Television Libre des Mille Collins]]* (RTLM) den de Kangura magazine insyd dey spread hate propaganda against de Tutsis. De criminal tribunal find dat dem indict Ferdinand Nahimana give de direct den public incitement to commit genocide while dey work at de radio station RTLM. Dem sanso indict Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza give de direct den public incitement to commit genocide at de RTLM den give ein work plus de *[[:en:Coalition_for_the_Defense_of_the_Republic|Coalition for the Defence of the Republic]]*. Dem sanso charge Hassan Ngeze give de incitement of genocide in relation to ein work plus Kangura magazine. De case be significant give dey consider de role media play for politics den public opinion insyd, den ein real life ramifications. 

## International Criminal Court (2003-2008)
Pillay garner international recognition give ein work as a judge on de ICTR den catch de attention of de members of de *Women's Caucus for Gender Justice* during de late 1990s. Impressed by ein work, women ein advocates want to ensure de protection of women ein rights during de establishment of de *[[:en:International_Criminal_Court|International Criminal Court]]*. De *Women's Caucus* gain enough momentum to go PrepCom den de Rome Diplomatic Conference wey dem codify women ein rights into de ICC statue, dey advocate dat der be quota give de number of women judges for de bench den de use of "gender" instead of "sex" for de ICC provisions of de Rome Statue insyd. After de establishment of de ICC, Pillay becam one of de first judges to eva serve for de court top.

Dem nominate Pillay to serve for de *International Criminal Court's Appeal Chambers* top by de Assembly of State Parties to de Rome Statute for 7 February 2003 top. Dem elect am to a six-year term dat March, but e resign for July 2008 insyd, effective 31 August 2008, in order to take up ein position plus de UN.

One of de first cases to appear for de International Criminal Court insyd be *The Prosecutor v [[:en:Thomas_Lubanga_Dyilo|Thomas Lubanga Dyilo]]* give dey enlist kiddies under 15 years old to de armed militias wey dey incite violence between de Hema den Lendu ethnic groups for de Ituri insyd, north-eastern region of de Democratic Republic of de Congo. While dem convict Dyilo give ein war crimes for 2012 insyd, Pillay serve for de appeals chamber top during de pre-trial phase of de case from 2006 to de end of ein term for 2008 insyd.

## High Commissioner give Human Rights (2008-2014)
For 24 July 2008 top, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon nominate Pillay to succeed Louise Arbour as *High Commissioner for Human Rights*. De United States reportedly resist ein appointment at first, sekof ein views for abortion den oda issues top, but eventually drop ein opposition. At a special meeting for 28 July 2008 top, de UN General Assembly confirm de nomination by consensus. Ein four-year term begin for 1 September 2008 top. Pillay say de High Commissioner be "*the voice of the victim everywhere.*" For 2012 insyd, dem give am two-year second term.

Pillay voiced support give a gay rights resolution for de UNHRC insyd, wey dem approve am for 2011 insyd. She sanso sign a document *"BORN FREE AND EQUAL"*, a document for sexual orientation den gender identity forinternational human rights law as High Commissioner. 

Pillay express concern about pressure wey dem place for private companies top to enact a financial blockade against WikiLeaks for 2010 insyd. She say such action be a violation of WikiLeaks ein right to freedom of expression. At a news conference for July 2014 insyd, she refer to Edward Snowden as a "human rights defender" den talk say, *"I am raising right here some very important arguments that could be raised on his behalf so that these criminal proceedings are averted."*

For a speech insyd for 8 June 2012 top, Pillay blacklist de provincial government of Quebec for Canada insyd give human rights violations wey dey concern de rights to peaceful protest den free expression give ein student protesters, specifically for Canada insyd. De bill for question insyd, Bill 78, require dat protest groups ova 50 must gain approval from authorities at least 8 hours before de planned start of de protest. De reaction from human rights NGOs mix. Quebec official sources criticize Pillay give dey compare Quebec plus areas dem know to get worse records.

Pillay ein call for 2012 insyd give de suspension of sanctions against den Robert Mugabe regime for Zimbabwe insyd, civil society for de country insyd criticize am, wey accuse de Zimbabwean government of manipulating Pillay into dey overlook de human rights violations wey de government commit am.

Ein 2013 criticism of de Sri Lankan government being an authoritarian state, insyd dey allege human rights violations den atrocities wey dem commit am against Tamil civilians at de end of de Sri Lankan civil war, wey lead de government den ein supporters to apportion ein own Tamil descent as de only reason give ein criticism, a claim she strongly deny am.
During de 2014 Gaza war, Pillay state dat both Israel den Hamas likely violate international law. Ein statement dat Israel engage for de "*apparent targeting... of seven children playing on a Gaza beach*" during de 2014 Gaza war beach bombings dem criticize am for *Fox News* *insyd* op-ed by Anne Bayefsky as "incitement to hate". Pillay sanso criticize US funding of de Iron Dome program, wey e note dat "*no such protection has been provided to Gazans against the shelling*". *Tablet* describe de statement as a "hilariously delicious absurdity". For 25 July 2014 top, de United States Congress publish a letter wey dem address to Pillay by ova 100 members insyd wey de signatories assert dat de Human Rights Council *"cannot be taken seriously as a human rights organisation"* sekof demma investigation of Israel ein conduct during de war.

For August 2014 insyd, she criticize de international community ova ein "paralysis" in dealing plus de more dan three-year old Syrian Civil War, wey by 30 April 2014 had resulted for 191,369 deaths insyd.

## International Court of Justice
De composition of de bench of de International Court of Justice dey vary from case to case, den go choose a judge ad hoc to serve for de bench top if der be no judges of de nationality of one anaa both of de parties. De party of Gambia designate am as judge ad hoc den she dey serve for de bench top since 2019.

Pillay dey serve as a judge ad hoc for de Rohingya genocide case top give crimes of genocide since 2019, wey de Gambia designate am. Gambia bring de case against Myanmar give dey violate de Genocide Convention against de ethnic group Rohingya. Despite pushback from Myanmar, de court approve Gambia ein case as admissible for court insyd den dey continue to hold hearings. De case be notable for dat insyd wey e involve anoda country dey sue anoda give war crimes for anoda jurisdiction insyd, wey e create a lot of pushback for de international community insyd regarding de ICJ ein jurisdiction.

## Independent International Commission of Inquiry for de Occupied Palestinian Territory top (2021-2025)
Pillay be chair of de UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry for de Occupied Palestinian Territory top, wey dem create after de 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis till November 2025. For July 2022 insyd, Miloon Kothari, a member of de commission, allude to a "*Jewish lobby controlling social media*" while dey speak about attempts to discredit de commission. Pillay state dat Kothari ein comments dey take out of context. De U.S. den Europe be vocal about demma disapproval of de establishment of de commission sekof e get no formal end date, to wey e dey respond dat "*the occupation [of Israel] does not have end date either and you tend to support that occupation*".

For June 2024 insyd, de commission determine dat war both Hamas den Israel commit war crimes for de wake of de 7 October attacks insyd. Pillay be additionally denounce Israel as disproportionately dey target children den be hesitant to call Israel ein actions self-defense. For response insyd, critics wey include de Jerusalem Center give Public Affairs bell ein comments anti-semitic. De three members of de commission announce dat dem dey plan to resign for July 2025 insyd.

For September 2025 insyd, de Commission of Inquiry determine dat Israel commit genocide during de Gaza war. For an op-ed in The New York Times insyd, Pillay state dat de world get obligation to prevent genocide, wey dey include "*halting the transfer of weapons and military support used in genocidal acts, ensuring unimpeded humanitarian assistance, stopping the mass displacement and destruction, and using all available diplomatic and legal means to stop the killing*."

## Ein awards
For 2003 insyd, Pillay receive de inaugural Gruber Prize give Women ein Rights.

Dem award am honorary degrees by 

* Durban University of Technology - wey dey base for ein hometown of Durban insyd, South Africa
* Durham University, England
* City University of New York School of Law, USA
* London School of Economics, Rhodes University, South Africa
* Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
* Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
For 2009 insyd, Forbes rank am as de 64th most powerful woman for de world insyd.

For 2009 insyd, she receive de Golden Plate Award of de American Academy of Achievement wey Awards Council member Archbishop Desmond Tutu present am for awards ceremony at St. George's Cathedral for Cape Town, South Africa insyd.

For 2025 insyd, she win de Sydney Peace Prize den for 2026 insyd, she win de Olof Palme Prize.

## Make you sanso see

* First women lawyers around de world
* List of first women lawyers den judges for Africa insyd

## References