Justice and a Common Future in a Divided World
How can rule of law, access to justice and good governance contribute to sustainable development in Canada and our world, in the face of rising intolerance and populism?
The Conference
The Gonthier Memorial Lecture Series was initiated to celebrate and honour the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Charles D. Gonthier, recognizing the importance of his work for several generations of Canadian and international jurists in promoting responsibility, sustainability and justice. Internationally renowned speakers, selected by a committee of experts, are invited to provide a distinguished lecture every two years, highlighting matters of international, civil and constitutional law related to justice and sustainable development.
The theme of the 2017 lecture is "Justice and a Common Future in a Divided World" and considers “How can rule of law, access to justice and good governance contribute to sustainable development in Canada and our world, in the face of rising Intolerance and populism.” This biennial year, we have the pleasure of welcoming Ms. Irene Khan, Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and the Hon Justice Guy Canivet, former President of the Cour de Cassation of France, Vice-Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission, and former member of the French Constitutional Court of France.
The opening address will be given by the Honourable Nicole Duval Hesler, Chief Justice, Quebec Court of Appeal. The closing remarks will be provided by the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice, Government of Canada.
For registration and tickets, visit our .
The event will be preceded by "International Justice and Sustainable Development: A Symposium and Book Launch."
About the Speakers:
Irene Khan is an extremely distinguished international jurist, and the Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). The first woman to ever hold this office, she was elected by Member Parties on November 17, 2011. Ms. Khan was born in Bangladesh, and she studied law at the University of Manchester and Harvard Law School. She is an international thought leader on human rights, gender and social justice issues. She served as Secretary General of Amnesty International from 2001 - 2009. Prior to this, she served the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for 21 years from its headquarters and various field operations. She was a Visiting Professor at the State University of New York Law School (Buffalo) in 2011, and sits on the boards of several international human rights and development organizations. She is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and prestigious awards, including the City of Sydney Peace Prize in 2006 for her work to end violence against women and girls. Her book, The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights, has been translated into seven languages.
Guy Canivet est vice-président de la Commission d'éthique du CIO, ancien membre de la Cour constitutionnelle française et président de la Cour de cassation française. Le juge Canivet a une longue et distinguée carrière en droit en tant que juriste, professeur et érudit. Le juge Canivet a débuté sa carrière en tant qu'auditeur de justice, devenant plus tard juge d'instruction et a acquis, tout au long de sa carrière, une vaste expérience de la promotion de la justice et du développement du droit. Le juge Canivet a joué un rôle clé en exprimant l'importance du devoir, de l'indépendance judiciaire et de l'égalité, d'abord, comme membre de la Cour d'appel, puis comme Premier Président de la Cour d'appel et, plus tard, comme Premier Président de la Cour de cassation. Il est professeur à l 'Université Paris V - René Descartes et à la Sorbonne et vice-président du Comité d'éthique du CIO. Aujourd’hui, et comme il l'a fait tout au long de sa carrière, le juge Canivet continue de jouer un rôle important dans l'élargissement de l'égalité et de la justice, tant dans la magistrature française que sur la scène internationale.
Additional information
The event will be preceded, from 5pm to 6:30pm, by a Welcome Reception hosted by leading Canadian law faculties, firms and associations. The Welcome Reception is included in the Memorial Lecture registration fee. The Memorial Lecture will be immediately followed by a Banquet Dinner at the McGill Faculty Club, for which are available. All proceeds will go to support the Hon Justice CD Gonthier Endowment, and charitable tax receipts will be provided for Banquet Dinner registrants and sponsors.
If you cannot participate in the Lecture or Banquet this year, please consider sponsoring a table or a leading law student to benefit from the events in memory of Judge Gonthier’s work, or making a donation to the Gonthier Memorial Lecture. Charitable tax receipts will be provided to all donors.
Deepest gratitude is due to ILA Canada, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice, Canadian Environmental Law Association, the Centre for International Governance Innovation, the Philippe Kirsch Institute, key collaborators in this event. Â
