Volker Türk congratulates Pillay and says she has shown what belief in human rights and the law can achieve
Volker TürkUnited Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on his X account
On X on October 9, 2026, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk congratulated Navi Pillay, whom he called a dear friend, on the Nobel Peace Prize and said she has shown what courage, integrity and an unwavering belief in human rights and the law can achieve.
“Warmest congratulations to my dear friend and former UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay on the Nobel Peace Prize! She has shown what courage, integrity and an unwavering belief in human rights and the law can achieve. Thank you, Navi, for inspiring us all.”
Original post
Where this statement fits
Was the Nobel Committee right to award Navi Pillay the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize?
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Navi Pillay's work for international justice. UN Watch condemned the award, alleging that her record on Israel and antisemitism disqualified her.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk posted this on X on October 9, 2026, the day the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the prize.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced earlier on October 9 that Pillay, who was UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014, had won the 2026 Peace Prize.
After the quotation
Türk holds the post Pillay held from 2008 to 2014.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
He congratulates Pillay and praises her courage, integrity and belief in human rights and the law, which endorses the committee's choice.
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More from this case
Read the full caseWorld Uyghur Congress raises serious concerns about Pillay's award over her record on China
World Uyghur Congress
“The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) expresses serious concerns about this decision in light of actions taken by Pillay during her tenure as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014. ... The WUC acknowledges Pillay's contributions in other areas of human rights and international law. However, these achievements must not preclude scrutiny of her record on China, including the protection of Uyghur human rights defenders and her response to the grave human rights violations committed against Uyghurs.”Read statement
Trump calls the award to Pillay a disgraceful decision and an indelible stain on Norway
“the Nobel Prize was given out today to a liberal person who works at the United Nations who nobody has ever heard of. ... The United States of America, represented by me as your President should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn't. And this is an indelible stain on the country of Norway and those people that made such a disgraceful and embarrassing decision. The Nobel Peace Prize has been forever discredited by a handful of radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilization.”Read statement
Netanyahu says the Nobel Committee lost its moral compass
“The Nobel Prize committee has lost its moral compass.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Volker Türk congratulates Pillay and says she has shown what belief in human rights and the law can achieve". First published: 2026-10-20. Last updated: 2026-10-20. https://disputeindex.com/events/6303-on-x-on-october-9-2026-un-high