Law Practice in Human Rights, National Institutions & Democratic Governance

I am a lawyer in private practice, based in Montreal, with more than 25 years’ experience in human rights and public policy and civil society.

I have successfully led complex, global projects on law reform, access to justice and capacity assessment for national institutions, and worked with in-country missions in eight countries.

Member of the Barreau du Québec, Law Society of Ontario

Country working experience: Canada, China, Ethiopia, Iraq, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Timor Leste

Academic: Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University. Associate Professor (Professional) Max Bell School of Public Policy (2019-2026). Full Member, Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism.

RightsBlog: Developments in Human Rights

AREAS OF FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE

Civil Liberties and Fundamental Freedoms: 10+ years experience teaching civil liberties, dissent and democracy at the university level.

Civil Society: Coalition-building, CSO leadership, supporting an enabling environment for CSOs, preventing reprisals.

Equality rights: Gender equality, human rights complaints processes; minority rights, including linguistic rights.

Housing rights: Right to adequate housing, incorporating internaitonal standards into national law.

National Institutions: Establishment and strengthening of NHRIs (commissions, ombudsperson institutions, transitional justice institutions, cultural human rights institutions, human rights tribunals); strategic planning, organizational development; technical assistance & training; legal reform and statutory drafting; capacity assessment and evaluation; developing and re-engineering complaints systems, public policy capacity and international liaison;

Public interest litigation and social justice advocacy: Public interest litigation and community-based social justice advocacy.

Rule of Law: Sector reform; judicial independence.

Women's rights: Protections against violence against women; community engagement with women's shelters.

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