A former United Nations lawyer has been appointed chair of B.C.’s Human Rights Tribunal, the provincial agency responsible for accepting, screening, mediating and adjudicating human rights complaints under the Human Rights Code.
Emily Ohler was appointed a full-time member of the tribunal June 9, 2016.
She holds a juris doctor from Osgoode Hall law school and a master's degree in international and comparative law from the National University of Singapore.
Prior to joining the tribunal, Ohler was a litigator in Vancouver before moving to Geneva, Switzerland, to join the United Nations Compensation Commission, a subsidiary of the United Nations Security Council. She advised the commission on policy, legal, procedural and practical matters related to post-conflict claims and sustainable development projects.
In Vancouver, Ohler incorporated Broadleap Solutions Ltd., an international advisory firm focused on implementing the UN Guidelines on Business and Human Rights and advising on equity and diversity policy.
She has taught international and common law as a lecturer and adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia.
Ohler starts a three-year term Aug. 1, 2021.
She replaces Paul Singh, who agreed to a six-month term as the acting tribunal chair of the BCHRT while the recruitment process was underway.
Singh will continue as a part-time member of B.C.’s tribunal while starting duties as a part-time member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, to which he was recently appointed for a five-year term.
