Navi Pillay says she initially thought Nobel award was a joke

Navi Pillay initially thought news that she had won the Nobel Peace Prize was a joke, the former U.N. human rights chief told journalists on October 9.

Pillay questioned whether the announcement was real and wanted to verify it. RIA Novosti, Euronews and South Africa's TimesLIVE reported her surprised reaction.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award in Oslo on Friday, recognizing her efforts to promote peace and international law.

Pillay previously served on South Africa's High Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court. She also led a U.N. inquiry concerning the occupied Palestinian territories and serves as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice in the genocide case concerning Myanmar.