Last week, the United Nations Independent Inquiry Commission on the Occupied Palestinian Territory announced its findings that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, making it the first UN-affiliated body to do so. Leading the charges against Israel is Navi Pillay, the Commission’s chairwoman and an international jurist of repute with several roles under her belt.
Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay was born in 1941 in apartheid-era South Africa to Indian parents of Tamil descent. She received her BA and LLB degrees from the University of Natal. In later years, she also earned a Master of Law and a doctorate from Harvard University. In 1967, Ms. Pillay became the first woman to start a law practice in Natal, her home province. Her early years saw her defending anti-apartheid activists and advocating for prisoners’ rights. She helped establish rights, including access to legal representation and basic amenities, for prisoners on Robben Island in 1973.
