New York  - The UN General Assembly approved Monday South African judge Navanethem Pillay as the body's high commissioner for human rights, citing her struggle against apartheid and judicial career.

Pillay was selected by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who asked the 192-nation assembly to approve her nomination. Pillay will take over the post on August 1 for a four-year term, replacing Louise Arbour, a former Canadian Supreme Court justice. The office of the high commissioner for human rights is based in Geneva.