The Conference will take place at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights after a day-long workshop for scholars on Thursday, November 13, at Robson Hall, the Faculty of Law building on the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry Campus. Dr. Ogunranti hopes the workshop and subsequent conference will serve to bring together legal scholars from across the globe to share ideas and collaborate on projects that could have impact for positive change in the way business is conducted and legislation and policy are created.

“This conference marks the end of the beginning of a timely and critical conversation about the role of Canadian businesses operating in Canada and abroad,” said Dr. Ogunranti. “It heralds the birth of a think-tank forum in Canada that is dedicated to mentoring young scholars, amplifying the voices of marginalized groups, and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders working in the business and human rights field.”

“Hosting the inaugural Insights ’25 Business and Human Rights Conference reflects our Faculty’s deep commitment to advancing legal scholarship that connects business practices with human rights principles,” said Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of the Faculty of Law. “Through the Desautels Centre and collaborations like this, we’re fostering a space where research, advocacy, and education converge to address some of the most pressing global challenges in law and commerce.”

The origins of the idea for a Canadian Forum for Business and Human Rights was born of a conversation between Dr. Laura Reimer, Director of Program Development for the Faculty of Law, and Dr. Nathan Derejko, Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice at UM. Reimer had attended a forum of Business and Human Rights in Geneva, and Derejko had recently come to UM from his role as Director of the Human Rights Centre Clinic at the University of Essex. When Ogunranti arrived with his specialization in Business and Human Rights, the CFBHR came together and the idea for a workshop and conference became a reality.

“The Desautels Business Law Accelerator is proud to have provided the seed money that established Canada’s only Canadian Forum for Business and Human Rights. Working collaboratively with four other leading scholars in the field and their institutions, Professor Akin Ogunranti and his excellent Research Assistant, Jovinel Evangelista have led the way for a national first in the establishment of this international conference,” said Dr. Laura Reimer, Director of Program Development for the Faculty of Law. “We are excited to welcome scholars and activists from all over the world to Winnipeg, and stand proudly with Dr Ogunranti and the founding partners of the CFBHR as we meet together (appropriately) at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.”

The conference begins with a Keynote address from Fernanda Hopenham, Vice-Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and the Co-Executive Director at Project on Organizing, Development, Education and Research (PODER), Latin America. Plenary sessions and panels throughout the day will include topics including:

• Business and Human Rights in a time of transition: The effect of cross-border relationships
• Indigenous Rights, Gender, and Benefit Agreements
• The Role of Non-state Actors’ Advocacy in BHR: Prospects and Challenges
• Judicial Remedies: Civil and Criminal Liability | Transnational Corporate Accountability
• Non-Judicial Remedy
• Transparency Laws, Supply Chain, and Human Rights Due Diligence
• Rights of Nature Litigation as Business and Human Rights Litigation: The Lake Winnipeg Case and Prospects for Canada
• Climate Change, Sustainability, Corporate Governance, and National Security
• Canadian Extractive Industry: Colonialism, BHR Norms, and Investment Law

Panelists and presenters include law professors and legal practitioners from all across Canada and the United States, as well as the United Kingdom.

Dr. Ogunranti expressed deepest thanks to the conference’s generous supporters, including the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, the University of Manitoba, the Desautels Centre, the Manitoba Law Foundation, the Law Commission of Canada, the Legal Research Institute, and Research Manitoba.

The Canadian Law Student Conference, hosted by the Windsor Review of Legal and Social Issues, offers law students the unique opportunity to present their work and receive feedback from faculty and peers. The Conference takes place over a two-day period in Windsor, Ontario and is attended by faculty, law students, practitioners, and judges from across Canada. This year’s Keynote Address was given by The Honourable Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada, who visited Robson Hall on March 28.

Professor Jennifer Schulz, who is also the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program and an author of multiple books and other academic research publications herself, had encouraged all law students to consider submitting papers to the conference earlier this year.

London, who will be clerking with the Tax Court of Canada upon graduating, submitted a paper titled “The Regulated Wild West: Sports Betting and Dispute Resolution in Canada”. He wrote the paper for the Dispute Resolution course taught by Professor Jennifer Schulz. “I’d encourage others to apply for conferences, journals or paper awards, because there are a lot of opportunities available across the country,” said London.

Justin Papoff (3L) presents his paper written for Professor Michelle Gallant’s Dispute Resolution class.

Papoff, who will article at MLT Aikins LLP in Winnipeg upon graduation, presented his paper titled “Holding the Kids Hostage: What Family Lawyers Can Learn from Hostage Negotiators. The paper was written for Professor Michelle Gallant’s Dispute Resolution class during the Fall 2023 semester.  “I submitted the paper because I thought that my comparison of hostage negotiations and family disputes was a unique one that could lead to further research into the topic by others,” said Papoff. “By adopting skills used by hostage negotiators such as active listening, empathy, trust, and rapport, I believe lawyers can facilitate behavioral change and enhance cooperation in family disputes.”

After presenting, Papoff fielded questions from peers, and found this to be an important learning experience that gave him new ideas and opportunities for self-reflection. “I was also fortunate to learn about many interesting issues as they intersect with the law, including environmental racism, India’s caste system, and the digital privacy of children,” he said, noting some of the other impactful presentations he experienced.

Simpson presented on the topic of “Learning from Feminist Methodologies: A Way Forward for the Human Rights Approach to Disability-Based Persecution.” The paper was written for Dr. Amar Khoday’s Refugee Law class and discussed the types of harms that have been found by refugee decision makers to qualify as persecution based on disability for which refugee protection should be afforded. Simpson argued that these forms of harm are too anchored in traditional conceptions of harm that lead to the adoption of the Refugee Convention and are not responsive to the lived experiences of persons with disabilities nor the international human rights instruments that have been adopted to reflect unique positionalities of these persons. 

“[Professor Khoday] was very supportive and provided comprehensive feedback that helped me to develop the paper into something I wanted to share and that I hope to continue to develop, and this Conference was a great opportunity to get more feedback and hear about some work other students are doing in the topic,” said Simpson.

This Conference helped me to see how other students are taking their findings and making concrete and implementable recommendations based on them which has assisted me in improving my own paper.

– Megan Simpson (3L)

The panel Simpson presented on was entitled “Interdisciplinary Perspectives.” On the whole, the Conference showed Simpson how much there is to learn from other legal and non-legal disciplines. 

Lamari’s paper titled “Not Without Health: The Accessible Canada Act and Canada’s Failure to Implement the CRPD,” was written for the Human Rights Law course taught in the Fall term by Assistant Professor Nathan Derejko, Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice. “He recommended I try to publish it, so I will be looking into that after the conference,” said Lamari, who presented at 3:00 p.m. Winnipeg time via Zoom on March 22.

The McGill event is a hybrid bilingual student colloquium with students from across Canada presenting research on disability and human rights. The keynote speaker this year was Professor Stephanie Chipeur, Law and Disability Policy professor at the University of Calgary.

The main goals of MHR program administrators is that the Tour sparks dialogue, promotes reflection, and educates participants about the dynamic nature of human rights. The Tour emphasizes how historical events have shaped Winnipeg’s present human rights climate and projects their significance into Canada’s future, intertwining past events with current activism and future aspirations for justice and inclusion.

“The Winnipeg Human Rights Tour is one of the land-based learning activities of the Master of Human Rights program at the University of Manitoba, and provides a unique opportunity for participants to explore some of the rich history and current struggles of human rights in Winnipeg,” said Dr. Nathan Derejko, who holds the Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice.

A map of Human Rights-related landmarks was created especially for the Master of Human Rights program’s tour.

This year, program administrators commissioned an intricately designed map, enriched with additional stops of interest. More than just a tool for navigation, this map narrates Winnipeg’s ever-evolving journey in human rights. With concise descriptions of significant landmarks, participants are not only informed about historical events but are also introduced to ongoing human rights initiatives and potential future developments. The map fosters a deeper connection between the participants, the city’s history, its contemporary human rights scenario, and future aspirations.

Winnipeg’s human rights history is a combination of struggles and heartening victories. While it is essential to acquaint university students with the past, it is equally important to connect these historical accounts with contemporary issues and future human rights prospects. This tour serves as a bridge, fostering awareness and inspiration, and reminding participants of sacrifices, achievements, and the ongoing journey towards a more inclusive society.

Pia, an International Student from Chile, said, “I really liked the tour because it provided insight into the city’s history, which is very important as a newcomer, and also, I enjoyed the participatory approach between the guide and the participants.”

This year’s tour took place on Saturday, September 17 and was open to all Master of Human Rights program students and alumni. While primarily designed for university students to promote academic discussion and ideas, plans are in the works to expand the tour to a broader audience. The tour is focused on downtown Winnipeg and the Forks, and takes about two to three hours to walk. This year, Javier Torres, Master of Human Rights Professional Development Coordinator led the tour.

Priscila, an International Student from Brazil, described an encounter the group had with a passerby who was also an activist, taking part that day in a protest to search the Brady Landfill. “As an international student, this tour allowed me to connect with the city and with local events related to human rights,” she said. “The highest point was talking to a representative of a local protest who claimed the search for missing Indigenous women in the region. It was an important experience to feel the city and its culture.”

A local activist stopped to speak with MHR students regarding the ongoing landfill search protest. Photo by Dr. Kjell Anderson.

Augustine Caesar, another participating student, said, “The Winnipeg Human Rights Tour has helped me to learn what happened in the past and to realize the importance of keeping track records of whatever happened. As a Human Right Student and activist, it has helped me to appreciate and recognize the past happenings, and definitely it will help me to shape the present now, the future and to hold duty bearers accountable for their actions.”

The Human Rights Tour of Winnipeg offers a rich tapestry of stories, struggles, and triumphs that can inspire a new generation to continue the work of their predecessors, ensuring a brighter and more inclusive future.

Fourteen students presented in five different panel sessions which were divided into the topics of Human Rights and Mental Health, Human Rights and Education, Indigenous Rights, Perspectives on Human Rights, and Discrimination – Race, Gender, and Disability. Audience members, which included placement mentors, professors and family members, were invited to ask questions after each group had presented. This year, the Faculty of Law accommodated a hybrid format for those unable to attend in-person.

“It was wonderful and enriching to all be together in the same room for the Master of Human Rights Symposium,” said Dr. Kjell Anderson, Director of the MHR program. “The pandemic has been a bumpy ride, but our students have shown a lot of resilience and I know they were grateful for the opportunity to gather to share their experience and knowledge with each other and the community.”

Presenting student Piper Larson reflected on how removed from each other her cohort felt, due to the pandemic. This symposium marked the first chance some of her classmates were able to meet in-person. “It was an honour to listen to all of my classmates as they spoke of their practicum experiences and their upcoming research. The diversity in the field of human rights is remarkable and listening to what everyone is passionate about is truly special. I cannot wait to see where the MHR students go from here,” she said.

“Presenting at the symposium online was definitely not the same as presenting in person but with the proper tech set up I was able to participate and engage as if I was there in the room,” said Sara Gibson, one of the student presenters who was unable to attend in-person, but presented via an online feed. “During my panel, I felt just as part of it as my fellow panelists that were in person.”

Sign of the times: Sara Gibson presents from afar online, but alongside her fellow panelists, Mitchel DeFehr and Stephanie Zirino. Dr. Kjell Anderson moderates.

Students could invite family and friends to attend as well as practicum mentors, which helped to make them feel supported. Gibson appreciated the opportunity and added, “It was so exciting to hear from my classmates and see the many different areas of focus that we are all researching. It was such a rewarding day and I am so proud of everyone in this cohort!”

Students in the practicum stream undertake work placements with leading local and international human rights organizations to gain practical, hands-on experience doing human rights work. Recent graduates are sometimes offered paid employment with their practicum organization following the completion of their hours.

Amy Cherpako completed her practicum at Wa Ni Ska Tan, a research-based Indigenous-led organization at the University of Manitoba’s Environmental Conservation Lab. During her placement, she focused on the concept of assigning legal rights to natural entities, like rivers or lakes, as an innovative, decolonizing environmental protection strategy.

Photo by Amy Cherpako, Practicum Student, Master of Human Rights program.

“I was drawn to the practicum stream for the desire to gain valuable work experience and skills in the field of human rights as well as have the opportunity to work with community,” said Larsen. “I chose to reach out to Immigration Partnership Winnipeg about a practicum placement because of their vision of making Winnipeg a welcoming and inclusive multicultural city, where everyone finds support and opportunities to prosper.”

I was able to work in the human rights field all summer and with subject matter that I care about deeply!” – Sara Gibson, MHR Practicum Student

“The practicum stream is such a valuable opportunity and all students should take advantage of it if possible,” said Gibson. “I had the chance to work at the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, a Winnipeg-based non-profit. As someone who had only ever worked in the public sector, this was such an eye-opening experience and I learned how non-profits function.”

Practicum placements and topics presented were as follows:

Human Rights and Mental Health

Victoria Weir
Practicum Site: Initiatives for Just Communities
Title: Offenders with FASD and the Case for Carceral Abolition

Aayushi Bana
Practicum Site: Public Interest Law Centre
Title: Right to Mental Health; A Scoping Review of Social and Cultural Barriers to Accessing Mental Healthcare Services for Refugee Women in Winnipeg

Omobolanle Sodipo
Practicum Site: Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth
Title: Rethinking Mental Health Legislation to Provide Protection for Children and Youth at Imminent Risk of Harm: A Human rights approach

Human Rights and Education

Stephanie Zirino
Practicum Site: Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties (MARL)
Title: Mental Health as a Human Right: A Review of Mental Health Policies in Winnipeg School Divisions

Sara Gibson
Practicum Site: MARL
Title: Gaps in Human Rights Knowledge among Canada’s Youth

Mitchel DeFehr
Practicum Site: MARL
Title: The right to Tell Stories: Human Rights Narratives and the Digital age

Indigenous Rights

Michael Campbell
Practicum Site: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
Title: Preserving the Right to Truth at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Amy Cherpako
Practicum Site: Wa Ni Ska Tan
Title: Nature’s Rights are Human Rights: Revitalizing Indigenous Land Stewardship through Legal Personhood

Perspectives on Human Rights

Natasha Tomchuk
Practicum Site: Manitoba Human Rights Commission
Title: The Effects of COVID-19 on the Manitoba Human Rights Commission

Sabbontu Abdushekur
Practicum Site: MARL/Human Rights League Horn of Africa
Title: The Hidden War in Oromia (Ethiopia)

Piper Larsen
Practicum Site: Immigration Partnership Winnipeg
Title: Permanent Residents and the Right to Vote

Discrimination – Race, Gender, and Disability

Raisa Salima Amin
Practicum Site: Sexual Violence Resource Centre, UM
Title: Sexual Violence against Students with Disabilities on Campus: A Review of Resources and Accessibilities.

Kimberly Lenz
Practicum Site: Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (Montreal)
Title: Accelerating Global Efforts to Eradicate Gender-based Violence against Women: The Prospects of an International Binding Treaty

Jessie Thind
Practicum Site: Her Code Camp
Title: Artificial Impartiality: The Insidious Role of AI in Reinforcing White Supremacy in Canada

The Master of Human Rights program at the University of Manitoba offers both a thesis stream (16 – 24 months of full-time study) and a practicum stream (16 months full-time including a practicum of at least three months). Complete information about the program is on the Faculty of Law website. The annual deadline for applications is December 1st each year.

The event, “Imagining the Peg as a Human Rights City”, takes place on Zoom on Friday, December 9, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. Registration is open to the public. This event is the first of a series of bi-monthly “public policy talks” by the Centre for Social Sciences and Policy, and Director Shayna Plaut will be speaking further about the event with CBC’s Marcy Markusa on Information Radio on Friday.

Guest speakers include Dr. Warren Clarke, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Manitoba, Dr. Nathan Derejko, Assistant Professor and Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice at the UM Faculty of Law, Reanna Merasty, Artist, Author and Chair of the Welcoming Winnipeg Committee, City of Winnipeg, Dr. Joel Pruce, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Applied Research and Learning at the University of Dayton Human Rights Centre, and Karen Sharma, Executive Director of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and member of the UM Master of Human Rights Program Committee.

Introductory remarks (via pre-recorded video) will come from Leah Gazan, MP for Winnipeg Centre, NDP Critic for Women and Gender Equality; Children, Families and Social Development; Deputy Critic for Housing. Gazan, together with Reanna Merasty, has called for a state of emergency in the wake of the recent news of the loss of life of several First Nations women, which has redoubled efforts of the MMIWG2S movement to raise awareness and address the lack of response when Indigenous women, girls or two-spirited individuals go missing or are murdered.

“Human rights are always realized bottom up, largely through the unrelenting work of community groups and civil society. Here it is clear that Winnipeg is home to a diverse, dedicated and vibrant civil society, that is without doubt, the driving force of social justice in Winnipeg.” – Dr. Nathan Derejko, Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice, University of Manitoba

Participants in the event can expect panellists to examine the question of what Winnipeg might look like if human rights and responsibilities were centred, and if human rights were the guiding principles for the decisions made and strategies undertaken at the city level. Currently, Winnipeg is regarded as ground zero for MMIWG2S and has been labeled as one of the poorest and most racist cities in Canada. Organizers hope to spark dialogue and action in the community to make human rights in Winnipeg a lived reality.

In preparing for the event, Derejko shared some thoughts on the idea of a ‘Human Rights City,’ which he explained means different things to different people, “which is not unlike the concept of ‘Human Rights’ itself,” he said. “While there is no universal definition of a human rights city, nor a single or strict blueprint for building one, one of its defining characteristics is the mainstreaming of human rights within by-laws, policies, and programs of a city. Again, there is no blueprint here, nor a minimum quota that must be reached in order to “qualify” as a human rights city.”

Rather, adopting a municipal ‘human rights charter’ that sets out rights, obligations, and guiding principals is the approach to take, Derejko suggested, pointing to the Montreal Charter of Rights and Responsibilities as an example.

“A city could/should, in my opinion must, take a “Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA)” to its municipal policies and strategies, including on housing, education, health care, transportation, planning and development,” he said. “A city should also apply a HRBA to municipal budgets, not only in terms of budget allocation, but also in terms of a participatory and transparent system of budget allocation and taxation to ensure the municipality has the resources necessary to make rights a reality for all.”

Laws, policies and resources are not sufficient by themselves, however. “Political will is also an indispensable ingredient, and time will tell whether, and if so to what extent, Winnipeg’s new mayor will take the steps necessary to make rights a reality in Winnipeg for all,” said Derejko.

Derejko teaches Human Rights Law at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law and works closely with Canada’s first interdisciplinary Master of Human Rights program.

The Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice was created and funded through the generosity of the Mauro Foundation and is a key part of the Master of Human Rights program, now housed at Robson Hall, the Faculty of Law building on UM’s Fort Garry Campus.

The Master of Human Rights program’s inaugural cohort of students started classes in the fall term of 2019, as did the appointment of Dr. Kjell Anderson as the program’s director. The naming of the Mauro Chair is now the final key to opening the door to making Winnipeg “the next Geneva” as UM Chancellor Emeritus Mauro contemplated in a 2018 story in UM Today Magazine announcing his gift to endow the cross-faculty Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice.

“I’m very excited that Nathan Derejko will be joining our Faculty and the Master of Human Rights program as Mauro Chair,” said Anderson. “Nathan is a dynamic teacher and researcher, whose wide-ranging practice experience will energize our program and provide new opportunities for our students.”

Dr. Derejko holds a B.A., an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law, and a Ph.D. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. He has been living, researching and teaching in the UK for the past 10 years, with his most recent practice experience having been at Rights Watch UK in London. Born and raised in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Dr. Derejko has also lived in Vancouver and Halifax. Initially, he will be teaching human rights law for both the Juris Doctor and Master of Human Rights programs, as well as an elective Human Rights course, “Use of Force in International Law.” Robson Hall was pleased to interview Dr. Derejko prior to his arrival in Winnipeg, and we present here, a glimpse of our new Mauro Chair in the following conversation:

Robson Hall: How did you come to study human rights in the first place?

Dr. Nathan Derejko: Through a sense of frustration really. During my undergraduate studies at Dalhousie University I became deeply committed to grassroots activism on a range of social justice issues, and I was always evoking the idea of ‘human rights’ in advocacy and outreach, which proved to be a powerful language for mobilisation. But I soon came to realize that my knowledge of the actual scope and content of human rights, and how they work in practice, was pretty limited. I knew that human rights could be a tool for change, I just didn’t know how to use them effectively. This realization put me on the search for a Masters program in human rights, although to my surprise, I could not find a single one in Canada. Expanding my search abroad, I quickly discovered that Europe was abound in graduate programs dedicated to human rights. So without hesitation, I packed my bags and headed to Ireland to undertake an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland Galway. This program opened my eyes to the possibilities and challenges of using human rights as a tool for change, and I spent the next decade in Europe and beyond studying, teaching, and practicing human rights law.

RH: How exactly does one practice human rights law? What examples of cases might you encounter as a human rights lawyer?

ND: There are many ways one can practice human rights law. Of course, you can become a lawyer and litigate cases against the government before national courts. In Canada, this would include cases regarding any of the rights enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, such as the right to life, liberty, and security of person. But the practice of human rights is in no way limited to litigation and one does not need to be a lawyer to be a human rights practitioner – litigation is just one of many tools in the human rights toolbox.

I have an LL.M. and a Ph.D. in international human rights law, but I am not a human rights lawyer. Nevertheless, I have a wide range of experience as a human rights practitioner. For example, outside from academia, I have supported a range of strategic litigation efforts, provided legislative scrutiny and policy analysis to government review processes, engaged United Nations human rights mechanisms and special procedures, and developed advocacy campaigns both domestically and internationally. There is an abundance of roles in which a deep understanding of human rights law is essential.  

For example, many people with a Master in Human Rights go on to work at human rights NGOs, evaluating government policy – whether on health, housing, employment or other rights issues – through the framework of human rights law. Others end up working for government agencies advising on how to ensure that national laws and policies comply with international human rights standards. Some work with international organisations, such as the United Nations, doing research, advocacy or training. Some work in the investment or business sector, and conduct human rights due-diligence assessments to ensure investment policies and transnational corporations comply with human rights standards. The breadth of career opportunities is so incredibly vast, and whatever work one ends up doing will no doubt be tremendously rewarding, challenging, and inspiring. 

RH: What inspired you to apply for the Mauro Chair?

ND: Pretty much everything about this Chair inspired me to apply. First and foremost, the Chair is situated within Canada’s leading graduate program dedicated to human rights. This in and of itself presents a rich and inspiring research and teaching environment, for both students and staff, and means that I will have the opportunity to research and teach squarely within my areas of interests. If this program had existed when I was a student, I would have surely found myself headed to Winnipeg, Manitoba, rather than Galway, Ireland. As someone who has spent the last decade with one foot in the academy and another foot in the practice of human rights, the unique multidisciplinary nature of the MHR program, and its specific focus on bridging the theory and practice of human rights, was also very appealing to me as it aligns with my own approach to teaching and learning. Finally, as Canada’s leading graduate program in human rights, the opportunity to contribute to its future development and provide students with both the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective human rights practitioners is simply and literally my dream job.

RH: What is your plan for your research as Mauro Chair?

ND: My current research focuses on the protection of human rights during armed conflict, and counter-terrorism and human rights, and there are plenty of unresolved challenges in these areas that I plan on exploring in more depth. In terms of future research agenda, I am interested in further exploring the relationship between climate change and human rights, and in particular, the role and relevance of international human rights law in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. I would also like to explore the possibility of developing a collaborative multidisciplinary research project on Climate Justice and Human Rights that will marshal a broad range of expertise from across the University of Manitoba, including expertise from law, political studies, Indigenous studies, environmental sciences, public policy, social work, and economics, to determine if and how the human rights framework can contribute to the regulation of climate change and the emergence of climate justice.

RH: To what extent will you be working with students in the MHR program?

Engaging directly with the students, both within and beyond the classroom, is what I find most inspiring and love most about teaching human rights law, and I am very much looking forward to meeting the students in the MHR program. I am deeply committed to bridging the theory and practice of human rights in all my teaching and learning activities, and will work towards creating various opportunities for students to augment the knowledge they gain in the classroom with the development of the practical skills necessary to become effective human rights practitioners.

RH: Why Winnipeg (the inevitable question about mosquitos and weather)?

As a Canadian, I am quite familiar with the mosquito and weather narratives about Manitoba. I love snow and I know my kids will too, but I have to admit I’m slightly terrified about the mosquitoes – I’m really hoping their size and appetite are a myth! Nevertheless, my family and I are beyond excited to be moving to Winnipeg. We can’t wait to explore the many parks, sprawling urban forests, rivers and vast lakes – all things that we have missed dearly while living abroad. We also love the arts, and are particularly excited about Winnipeg’s legendary music scene.  My partner also practices human rights law, and we are both really looking forward to tapping into the vibrant civil society in Winnipeg that is working on an impressive range of human rights and social justice issues. As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in Geneva, I am also intrigued by Arthur Mauro’s vision of Winnipeg as the human rights capital of Canada, or “Canada’s Geneva”. Cleary, for anyone dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights, Winnipeg is an inspiring place to live and work.