Unisa online - Unisa honour for Human Rights Commissioner

In their full Unisa graduation attire; from left: Prof Louis Molamu (Unisa Registrar), Prof Mandla Makhanya (Principal and Vice-Chancellor), Justice Navi Pillay (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) and Professor Narend Baijnath (Pro-Vice-Chancellor)

Justice Navi Pillay (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) with Albert Chissano (Former President of the Republic of Mozambique)

Justice Pillay currently holds the prestigious position as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She was the first non-white woman in South Africa’s High Court and also served as a Judge in the International Criminal Court and as President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

Born in Durban in 1941, Justice Pillay’s parents instilled the belief in her that education was the key to a bright future. She graduated from the University of Natal with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1963 and a Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) in 1965. Keen to advance her legal knowledge, she attended the Harvard Law School, where she obtained her Masters in Law (LLM) in 1982 and a Doctor of Juridical Science

Degree in 1988. In 1967, Judge Pillay became the first woman to open her own law practice in the former Natal Province.

During her 28 years as a lawyer in South Africa, she defended anti-apartheid activists and helped expose the use of torture and atrocious prison conditions suffered by political detainees. Many of the activists she defended were members of liberation movements, including the African National Congress, the Unity Movement, the Azanian People’s Organisation, and the Pan Africanist Congress. In 1973, Judge Pillay brought a successful application against the officer commanding Robben Island Prison. The application established the fact that political prisoners on Robben Island had legally enforceable rights and privileges.

A distinguished group; front row, from left: Dr Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane (Deputy Chairperson of the Unisa Council), Justice Navi Pillay (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights), Prof Rushiella Songca (Acting Executive Dean of the College of Law), Prof Divya Singh (Vice-Principal: Advisory and Assurance Services). Back row, from left: Prof Narend Baijnath (Pro-Vice-Chancellor), Albert Chissano (Former President of the Republic of Mozambique), Prof Mandla Makhanya (Principal and Vice-Chancellor), Prof Louis Molamu (Unisa Registrar)

After Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa, Justice Pillay became the first non-white female justice appointed to the Supreme Court and in 1995 became the first black woman and first attorney in the country to serve on the bench. In the same year, she was shortlisted by the United Nations Security Council and elected by the United Nations General Assembly for a four-year term as a judge serving on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. That role was followed by an appointment as Judge of the International Criminal Court leading up to placement as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2008.

In 2003, Justice Pillay received the inaugural Gruber Prize for Women’s Rights. She has been awarded honorary degrees by Durham University, the City University of New York School of Law, the London School of Economics, and Rhodes University. In 2009, Forbes ranked her as the 64th most powerful woman in the world.  “I accept this award on behalf of all the courageous human rights defenders who have put their well-being and security, even their lives, at risk for the sake of human rights.  Their quest is our quest and our numbers and influence are growing,” she said.