Former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour, a distinguished Canadian jurist, has held various influential positions both domestically and internationally, often facing criticism for her principled stances. Hailing from a modest, single-parent household in Montreal in 1947, Arbour graduated with a prestigious law degree from l’Université de Montréal in 1970 and later became a member of the Ontario bar in 1977.
Throughout her extensive career, spanning 79 years, Arbour has notably served as the chief prosecutor for the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the CEO of the International Crisis Group. Her journey began with a clerkship under former Supreme Court Justice Louis-Philippe Pigeon post-graduation, followed by roles as a research officer at the Law Reform Commission and a professor at Osgoode Hall, York University’s law school, where she eventually became an associate dean by 1987.
In 1987, Arbour was appointed to the bench of what was then known as the Supreme Court of Ontario, now the Ontario Court of Justice, and later ascended to Ontario’s Court of Appeal. Her reputation as a courageous advocate for truth was evident early on, notably in her critical report on the conditions at a women’s prison in Kingston, Ontario, in 1996, advocating for humane treatment of inmates.
Transitioning to her role as a United Nations prosecutor in the same year, Arbour made significant strides in pursuing justice for war crimes in The Hague. Notably, she secured the first genocide conviction by an international tribunal since the 1948 Geneva Convention and oversaw the indictment of a sitting head of state for war crimes.
In her subsequent tenure on the Supreme Court of Canada, Arbour championed progressive legal reforms, including dissenting opinions on issues like marijuana decriminalization. Following her UN stint, she helmed the International Crisis Group, focusing on conflict resolution globally.
Arbour’s legacy extends to her role as the UN Special Representative for International Migration, overseeing the creation of the Global Compact for Migration, despite criticism from figures like Andrew Scheer. Notably, her recent work in leading the investigation into sexual harassment in the military led to systemic changes in prosecuting misconduct.
A staunch advocate for human rights, Arbour continues to champion LGBTQ+ rights and uphold principles of justice and equality in her illustrious career.