The Honourable Louise Arbour is a distinguished jurist, international human rights advocate, and prominent leader over the past several decades. She served as a Chief Prosecutor of UN Tribunals, Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada (1999–2004) before becoming the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2004–2008).

 

From 1996 to 1999, Ms. Arbour was the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and Rwanda (ICTR), leading landmark prosecutions for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Earlier in her career, she served as a Judge of the Ontario Court of Appeal (1990–1996) and as Professor and Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School.

 

Following her UN tenure, she served as President & CEO of the International Crisis Group (2009–2014) and later as the UN Special Representative for International Migration (2017–2018). She has contributed to global policy through roles with the Global Commission on Drug Policy, the International Commission Against the Death Penalty, and other international advisory bodies.

 

Ms. Arbour has been widely recognized for her contributions to justice and human rights. She has received the Pearson Peace Medal, the United Nations Human Rights Prize, and more than forty honorary doctorates from universities around the world. She has received the Order of Canada and the Commander of the Legion d’Honneur from the Ordre national du Québec, among other national and international distinctions.