He served as executive director of the Yukon Human Rights Commission
Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced Birju Dattani's appointment as the new Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC).
Dattani will replace Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, who has served as interim chief commissioner since December 2022. Malischewski will return to her position as deputy chief commissioner.
Dattani's appointment will commence on August 8 for a term of five years. He holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and a Master of Laws in Public International Law from the London School of Economics & Political Science, earned with merit. His academic career includes teaching fellow roles at the School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London, where he taught International Comparative Law, Human Rights Law, and European Union Law.
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Beginning his legal career with the Syrian Legal Development Program under the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Dattani served as director of Legal Operations for International Law. He then joined the Alberta Human Rights Commission as assistant regional director, where he assessed human rights complaints and advised on legislative, policy, and regulatory issues.
Dattani later became the executive director of the Yukon Human Rights Commission, where he administered the Yukon Human Rights Act. His tenure there lasted three years before he joined Centennial College in 2023 as the director of human rights and conflict resolution.
Throughout his career, Dattani has dedicated himself to protecting and upholding the rights of Canadians. With his appointment, he is expected to lead the CHRC, focusing on advancing human rights protections and addressing systemic issues such as racism and discrimination in Canada.
Minister Virani highlighted the significance of Dattani’s appointment, stating, “The appointment of Mr. Dattani as Chief Commissioner comes at a pivotal time for the Canadian Human Rights Commission. He brings a wealth of both professional and personal lived experience to this role. Our government remains committed to the protection of all human rights in Canada, including the fight against racism, and to strengthening our country’s role within the international human rights system.”
