Wikipedia

Louise Arbour

Louise Arbour,CC,GOQ(born February 10, 1947) is a Canadian lawyer, prosecutor and jurist.

The Honourable
Louise Arbour
CCGOQ
Louise Arbour at theWorld Economic Forumannual meeting in 2011
United Nations Special Representative for International Migration
In office
March 1, 2017 – December 31, 2018
Secretary GeneralAntónio Guterres
Preceded byPeter Sutherland
Succeeded byPosition abolished
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
In office
July 30, 2004 – August 31, 2008
Secretary GeneralKofi Annan
Ban Ki-moon
Preceded bySérgio Vieira de Mello
Succeeded byNavi Pillay
Puisne Justiceof theSupreme Court of Canada
In office
September 15, 1999 – July 28, 2004
Nominated byJean Chrétien
Preceded byPeter Cory
Succeeded byRosalie Abella/Louise Charron
Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals forRwandaand theformer Yugoslavia
In office
October 1, 1996 – September 15, 1999
Secretary GeneralBoutros Boutros Ghali
Kofi Annan
Preceded byRichard Goldstone
Succeeded byCarla Del Ponte
Personal details
Born(1947-02-10)February 10, 1947(age 77)
Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Children3
Alma materCollège Regina Assumpta(DEC)
Université de Montréal(BA,LLL)
University of Ottawa

Arbour was theUN High Commissioner for Human Rights,a former justice of theSupreme Court of Canadaand theCourt of Appeal for Ontarioand a former Chief Prosecutor of theInternational Criminal Tribunals for the former YugoslaviaandRwanda.From 2009 until 2014, she served as President and CEO of theInternational Crisis Group.[1]She made history with the indictment of a sitting head of state, Yugoslavian presidentSlobodan Milošević,as well as the first prosecution ofsexual assaultas acrime against humanity.From March 2017 to December 2018 she was the Special Representative of theUnited Nations Secretary-Generalfor International Migration.[2]She is currently in private practice in Montreal.[3]

Early life and education

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Louise Arbour was born inMontreal,Quebecto Bernard and Rose (née Ravary) Arbour, the owners of a hotel chain. She attended convent school, during which time her parents divorced. As editor of the school magazine, she earned a reputation for irreverence.[4]

In 1967, she graduated fromCollège Regina Assumpta,and proceeded to theUniversité de Montréalwhere she completed anLL.B.with distinction in 1970. She was alaw clerkfor JusticeLouis-Philippe Pigeonof theSupreme Court of Canadafrom 1971–1972 while completing graduate studies at the Faculty of Law (Civil Section) of theUniversity of Ottawa.This is where she met her long time common-law partner Larry Taman, with whom she lived for 27 years.[5]In a 2014 interview, Arbour named the move from Quebec to Ontario as the "biggest hurdle [she] had to overcome to succeed in [her] career," as her entire education had been in French.[6]

She was called to theBar of Quebecin 1971 and theLaw Society of Upper Canadain 1977.[7]

Personal life

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She has three adult children: Emilie, Patrick and Catherine.[7]Her daughter Emilie Taman was an NDP candidate in the 2015 Canadian election in the electoral district ofOttawa—Vanier.[8]Emilie also was a candidate for the NDP in the 2017 by-election[9]and 2019 general election.[10]She also has three grandchildren.[6]

Arbour is a member of theGlobal Commission on Drug Policyand of theInternational Commission Against the Death Penalty.[11]

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Canada

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From 1972–73, Arbour was research officer for theLaw Reform Commission of Canada.She then taught atOsgoode Hall Law School,York University,first as a Lecturer (1974), then as Assistant Professor (1975), Associate Professor (1977–1987), and finally as Associate Professor and Associate Dean (1987). She was vice-president of theCanadian Civil Liberties Associationuntil her appointment to theSupreme Court of Ontario(High Court of Justice) in 1987 and to theCourt of Appeal for Ontarioin 1990. In 1995, Arbour was appointed as President of a Commission of Inquiry, under the Inquiries Act, for the purpose of investigating and reporting on events at the Prison for Women inKingston, Ontario,following allegations by prisoners of abuse.[12]The inquiry resulted in the publication of theArbour Report.

The Hague

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In 1996, atRichard Goldstone's recommendation, Arbourwas appointedas his replacement as Chief Prosecutor of theInternational Criminal Tribunal for RwandainArusha,and of theInternational Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia(ICTY) in The Hague. She indicted then-Serbian PresidentSlobodan Miloševićfor war crimes, the first time a serving head of State was called to account before an international court.[13]

Supreme Court of Canada

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In 1999, Prime MinisterJean Chrétienappointed Arbour to theSupreme Court of Canadaon May 26, just one day before the publication of the indictment of Milosevic by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).[14]

In 2004, Arbour retired from the Supreme Court of Canada, having served for just under five years.[15][16]

Career after law

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United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights

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After leaving the Supreme Court of Canada, Arbour became the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights.[15]She criticized a number of countries for their human rights records.[17]In 2008, she stepped down after serving one four year term.[17]

Works and awards

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She has published works in the areas of criminal procedure and criminal law, in both French and English. At various times, she has served as an editor for theCriminal Reports,theCanadian Rights Reporter,and theOsgoode Hall Law Journal.[18]

In 2005, Arbour was awarded theThomas J. Dodd Prize in International Justice and Human Rights,along with JusticeRichard Goldstone,in recognition of her work on the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.[19]She was the subject of a 2005 fact-basedCanadian-Germanmade-for-television movie,Hunt for Justice[de],which follows her quest to indict Bosnian Serb war criminals. Arbour was played by Canadian actressWendy Crewson.[20]In 2016, she was awarded the prestigiousTang PrizeAward in rule of law for her enduring contributions to international criminal justice and the protection of human rights, and to promoting peace, justice and security at home and abroad, and to working within the law to expand the frontiers of freedom for all.

She was made a Companion to theOrder of Canadain 2007 "for her contributions to the Canadian justice system and for her dedication to the advancement of human rights throughout the world".[21]She was made a Grand Officer of theNational Order of Quebecin 2009.[22]

She was made a Commander of theNational Order of the Legion of Honourin 2011.[23]She has been awarded numeroushonorary degrees,including Doctor of Civil Laws from theUniversity of Western Ontarioin June 2000,[citation needed]Doctor of Humane Letters fromMount Saint Vincent Universityin May 2001,[24]and Doctor of Laws degrees from theUniversity of British Columbiain November 2001,[25]theUniversity of Waterlooin October 2006,[citation needed]in June 2009 from theUniversity of Alberta[citation needed]andUniversity of Guelph,[26]and fromSimon Fraser Universityin October 2009.[27]

On March 9, 2017, Arbour was appointed by theU.N. Secretary-General,António Guterres,to be his Special Representative for International Migration.[28]Her chief of staff wasJonathan Prentice.[29]

In April 2021, Arbour was appointed to lead an independent review of the military’s handling of sexual assault, harassment and other misconduct, byCanadian Minister of National DefenceHarjit Sajjan.[30]In May 2022, she delivered her report to Canadian Minister of National DefenceAnita Anand.[31]

She is currently a member of theWhitney R. Harris World Law Institute's International Council.[citation needed]

In January 2023, Arbour was awarded the 2023 Sandra Day O'Connor Justice Prize fromArizona State University,a lifetime achievement award for human rights work as well as upholding therule of lawandjudicial independence.[32]

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^"International Crisis Group - President".International Crisis Group.July 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-02.
  2. ^"Secretary-General Appoints Louise Arbour of Canada Special Representative for International Migration | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases".Un.org.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-04-25.Retrieved2017-04-24.
  3. ^The Honourable Louise Arbour C.C., G.O.Q., Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais.
  4. ^CBC News Online (11 March 2008)."Indepth: Louise Arbour".CBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 30 June 2020.Retrieved22 January2020.
  5. ^"Louise Arbour - Canadian attorney and judge".Britannica.com.Archivedfrom the original on 1 December 2017.Retrieved19 November2017.
  6. ^ab"Louise Arbour, noted legal mind, shares insights and advice as she joins her first law firm".Theglobeandmail.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-08-28.Retrieved2016-08-03.
  7. ^abSupreme Court of Canada (2001-01-01)."Supreme Court of Canada - Biography - Louise Arbour".www.scc-csc.ca.Archived fromthe originalon 2020-01-23.Retrieved2020-01-22.
  8. ^"L'ex-juge Louise Arbour appuie sa fille, candidate pour le NPD".La Presse(in French). 2015-07-07.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-04-21.Retrieved2020-01-22.
  9. ^Baker, Michelle Nash (2017-03-27)."Emilie Taman: NDP candidate for Ottawa-Vanier byelection".Toronto.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2022-01-04.Retrieved2022-01-04.
  10. ^"'It's too close to call:' The final push for Ottawa Centre ".ottawacitizen.Retrieved2022-01-04.
  11. ^"Ministerial Advisory Panel on Canada's Defence Policy Review".Government of Canada.6 April 2016.RetrievedOctober 26,2021.
  12. ^"Commission of Inquiry into certain events at the Prison for Women in Kingston"(PDF).Caefs.ca.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2 February 2017.Retrieved19 November2017.
  13. ^"Indictments | International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia".Icty.org.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-02-04.Retrieved2017-01-25.
  14. ^"Louise Arbour named to Supreme Court".Archivedfrom the original on 2009-06-25.Retrieved2007-10-22.
  15. ^abNersessian, Mary (2004-06-07)."Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour steps down".The Globe and Mail.Retrieved2022-01-16.
  16. ^"Supreme Court Justice Arbour steps down".CBC News.Retrieved2022-01-15.
  17. ^ab"Arbour stepping down as UN human rights chief".CBC News.Retrieved2022-01-15.
  18. ^"SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS LOUISE ARBOUR OF CANADA HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases".Un.org.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-02-02.Retrieved2017-01-25.
  19. ^Ali, Zahra (2015-05-14)."2005 Dodd Prize Recipients | Thomas J. Dodd Research Center".Retrieved2020-09-28.
  20. ^"Wendy Crewson | The Canadian Encyclopedia".www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-03-16.Retrieved2020-01-22.
  21. ^"Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada".Governor General of Canada.December 28, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon January 1, 2008.
  22. ^"National Order of Quebec citation"(in French).Archivedfrom the original on April 13, 2014.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  23. ^"AWARDS TO CANADIANS".Canada Gazette.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-01.Retrieved2011-12-14.
  24. ^"Honorary Degree Recipient Announcement".May 1, 2001. Archived fromthe originalon June 24, 2009.
  25. ^"UBC Honorary Degree Recipients - Alphabetical List".Library.ubc.ca.November 22, 2001.Archivedfrom the original on June 24, 2009.RetrievedJune 13,2009.
  26. ^"Eight to Receive Honorary Degrees".Uoguelph.ca.June 1, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on June 7, 2009.RetrievedJune 13,2009.
  27. ^"SFU 2009 Honorary Degree Recipients".Sfu.ca.Archived fromthe originalon June 23, 2011.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  28. ^"United Nations Population Division - Department of Economic and Social Affairs".Un.org.Archivedfrom the original on 1 December 2017.Retrieved19 November2017.
  29. ^"The United Nations Global Compact for Migration – Aspirations and Realities".alumni.cam.ac.uk.Retrieved14 June2024.
  30. ^"Former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour to lead review of military's handling of sexual misconduct".Retrieved2021-04-29.
  31. ^Walsh, Marieke (2022-05-30)."Military has 'failed' to keep women in uniform safe from sexual assault, former justice Louise Arbour finds".The Globe and Mail.Retrieved2022-05-30.
  32. ^Mulgrew, Ian (March 9, 2023)."High court justice Russell Brown under investigation after altercation at Arizona resort".Vancouver Sun.RetrievedMarch 10,2023.
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