Navi Pillay Earlier this month, Germany bestowed its highest civilian decoration, the Federal Cross of Merit, on South Africa's Dr Navi Pillay. Here is an excerpt of the speech made by German Ambassador Martin Schäfer at the event. I have come to Durban to express our recognition, to pay our respect and to express our gratitude to one of the most exceptional experts and influential actors in the realm of international criminal law and human rights in the world. It is difficult to imagine a more meaningful, more logical and more impressive legal career than yours. Your achievements truly go beyond what any law student could possibly dream of when sweating over law books at University.