June 14, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada
The Honorable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the appointment of Birju Dattani as Chair of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). Mr. Dattani will replace Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, who has been acting since December 2022. Mme Malischewski will return to her position as vice-president.
The appointment of Mr. Dattani is made by by decree, signed by Her Excellency the Governor General in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice. Mr. Dattani will assume the role of President for a five-year term, beginning August 8, 2024.
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“The appointment of Mr. Dattani as Commission President comes at a pivotal moment for the Canadian Human Rights Commission. He brings extensive professional and personal experience to this role. Our government remains committed to protecting all human rights in Canada, including through the fight against racism, and to strengthening our country’s role within the international human rights protection system. »
– The Honorable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biography
Mr. Birju Dattani obtained a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, in 2008, and a Masters of Public International Law (Hons) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, in 2011. Mr. Dattani was a lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, where he taught comparative international law, human rights law and the law of the European Union.
Mr. Dattani began his legal career as Director of Legal Affairs, International Law, of the Syrian Legal Development Program under the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He then became Deputy Regional Director of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, where he assessed human rights complaints and advised senior management on legislative, policy and regulatory matters.
Mr. Dattani then served for three years as director of the Yukon Human Rights Commission, where he was responsible for implementing the Human Rights Act of the Yukon. In 2023, he joined Centennial College as Director of Human Rights and Conflict Resolution.
Mr. Dattani has dedicated his career to protecting and defending the rights of Canadians. Recognized as an expert in human rights law and an advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion, he brings extensive practical and academic experience to his role as Commission Chair.
