The South African judge and human rights advocate Navanethem “Navi” Pillay was attending an event marking 80 years since the start of the historic Nuremberg trials after the Second World War when she received the news that she had won the Nobel peace prize. The event was being held in the very court complex where the trials took place.
Once the news was confirmed, Pillay made impromptu remarks to her colleagues. Joking, she said: “If you clap a little louder, maybe I can share this prize with Trump.” The remark drew laughter from the colleagues present.
Recalling the report on Gaza
Pillay said she was glad to be among friends and colleagues who work on human rights. “I think it is very fitting to be with friends and colleagues. They all work for human rights,” she said.
Turning to her recent work, she mentioned a report on Gaza. She said the report had described what is happening in Gaza as genocide, and that verifying the situation had been part of its work.
The heavy loss of life and destruction in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has long been a subject of international controversy over Tel Aviv’s conduct. Pillay’s remarks again brought to the fore that situation and the importance of fact-based inquiry in protecting human rights.
“Why should it take courage to tell the truth?”
Noting that the Nobel committee had praised her “courage”, Pillay expressed surprise. “You can imagine how surprised I was,” she said. She then asked: “Why should it take courage to tell the truth?”
Pillay said her job is to interpret the law and review all the facts and evidence, and that it is very important to remain impartial in reaching decisions.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report