Robson Hall alum elected to UN Human Rights Committee
On June 23 2016, Marcia V. J. Kran, a Canadian lawyer and former international civil servant now living in Vancouver, was elected to the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC). She holds B.A. (1987) and law (1980) degrees from the University of Manitoba, and received the Celebrated Alumnus Award from the Faculty of Arts in 2006.
The Human Rights Committee is a group of independent experts who serve on a volunteer basis and meet three times a year at the UN in Geneva to review countries’ records on civil and political rights as required by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“I am honoured the Government of Canada nominated me for this important, expert role,” said Kran. “Human rights issues are critical in the world today, and the challenges are perhaps better known than ever before. I am keen to use my experience to constructively contribute to pragmatic recommendations for positive changes in the human rights situation on the ground.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: “Canada is back on the UN Human Rights Committee. Congrats Marcia Kran on winning the support of your colleagues from around the world.”
Canada’s first member of the HRC was Walter Tarnopolsky, who served from 1977-1983. Over the last decade, no nominations have been made by the Government of Canada for UN human rights bodies. In March 2016 The Honorable Stephane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada announced the nomination of Ms. Kran at the Human Rights Council in Geneva as part of Canada’s stronger engagement with the UN. (see http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=index&crtr.page=1&nid=1037249).
Ms. Kran was one of 22 experts nominated by governments for nine open seats on the Committee. The full list of candidates can be found here.
Should you require any further information please feel free to contact Mark Allen (mark.allen@international.gc.ca) or Antonia Wynne-Hughes (antonia.wynne-hughes@international.gc.ca) at Global Affairs in Ottawa.