World · India Bureau
Nobel laureate Pillay jokes about shared prize with Trump
Former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay expressed surprise at learning she would share the Nobel Peace Prize, initially thinking the news was a joke.
LSN India ·
Navi Pillay, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, responded with humour upon learning that she would be sharing the Nobel Peace Prize with Donald Trump. The laureate said her immediate reaction to hearing the announcement was disbelief, treating the news as though it were a practical joke.
Pillay's lighthearted response highlighted the unexpected nature of the honour, which pairs her recognition for human rights advocacy with Trump's recognition in what observers have noted as a striking combination of recipients.
The South African jurist has had a distinguished career championing human rights and accountability mechanisms globally. Her Nobel recognition underscores her work advancing international humanitarian law and justice initiatives across decades of service in the international arena.
The Nobel Peace Prize committee's decision to honour both recipients reflects their respective contributions, though the pairing has drawn attention for the contrasting trajectories and philosophies of the two laureates in the public discourse.