INTERVIEW
In 1998, Arbour flew to Bosnia during her assignment as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
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Woman’s Work PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY LOUISE ARBOUR
A former Supreme Court justice and United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour reflects on balancing the demands of a high-profile career with family, promoting gender equality in the workplace and why you won’t find her memoirs in a bookstore.
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BY ROBIN STEVENSON
TROLL ALONG Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto, and among the stars set in cement to honour actors, athletes and musicians, you’ll find one for Louise Arbour. You may not immediately recognize her name, but Arbour’s contributions to the Canadian justice system and human rights worldwide are renowned. The 68-year-old Montrealer sat as a justice for the Supreme Court of Canada from 1999 to 2004, then, for the next four years, served as UN high commissioner for human rights in Geneva. Appointed by the Security Council of the UN as chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda, Arbour pursued and indicted war criminals. She was also responsible for the first prosecution of sexual assault as a crime against humanity. Now, after five years abroad, Arbour has returned home. For the first time, remarkably, she’s taken a job at a Montreal law firm, providing advice to lawyers of the International Trade and Arbitration Group on international disputes. Arbour is as busy
MARCH 2015 | CANADIANLIVING.COM
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