The biggest violators of human rights are states themselves, by commission or omission.
Meaning
Pillay said this in a 2016 law school lecture on national sovereignty versus international human rights. Her point is that freedom is most often threatened by power, including through inaction. In daily life, it nudges you to question institutions you trust and speak up when rules quietly erode someone's rights.
Source: Statement at University of Georgia School of Law (2016)
Best freedom Quotes with Meaning
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About the author
Navanethem Pillay is a South African jurist who served as a judge of the International Criminal Court and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and who won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
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