CLAIHR - Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights

CLAIHR at Queen’s University Law is composed of four law students who organize, budget and plan for activities throughout the year. Our major event is a documentary film festival for which we select films that represent a human rights issue we feel strongly  about. We invite scholars and human rights advocates to speak at the discussion panel following the films, which we hope will help to bring awareness of human rights issues to the Queen’s student body and the Kingston community.

2010-2011 CLAIHR Co-Chairs

Nicole Walton, Brittany Sargent, Pooja Punjabi and Richa Kaur.

2009-2010 CLAIHR Co-Chairs

Angela MacArthur (Law ‘11) is from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British  Columbia, majoring in Criminology and completing an extended minor in Political Science/International Relations. Since becoming a law student at  Queen’s University she has been involved as a member of the executive committee of Queen’s Pro Bono, and is participating in both the Pro Bono Family Law Project and the Queen’s Correctional Law Project. In June 2009, Angela completed the Public International Law Program at Queen’s University’s Bader International Study Centre in Herstmonceux, UK. She is interested in both domestic and international criminal law, particularly issues of victims’ rights and rights of the accused, due process, and access to justice, and how these issues fit into the broader scheme of human rights world-wide.

Shelagh Burrowes (Law ‘11) is from Calgary, Alberta and graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and from Queen’s University with a Master of Arts in English. She is a second year law student and an associate editor of the Queen’s Law Journal. After having spent the summer in a family law firm, she returns to Queen’s Law increasingly interested in family law but still maintaining a fervent interest in the status of human rights worldwide and, in particular how these rights are affected by and are implicated in international health crises. Her interest in international human rights and politics has been sparked by her love of both international literature and traveling.

Courtenay Simmons (Law ‘11) graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in History. She is interested in International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law,  International Human Rights Law and Domestic Criminal Law. In June 2009, Courtenay completed the International Public Law Program at Queen’s University’s Bader International Study Centre in Herstmonceux, England. Courtenay is currently working on an Individual Study Project in the area of International Humanitarian Law and is participating in the Queen’s Clinical Correctional law Program.

Mitsumi Kawai (Law ‘11) is from North Vancouver and obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in psychology from University of British Columbia. Since becoming a law student at Queen’s University, she has been involved as a volunteer editor with the Queen’s Law Journal, spent her summer as a legal intern with Pivot Legal Society advocating for social change in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and is now participating in the Queen’s Business Law Clinic to provide pro bono legal services to small businesses and non-profit organizations in the Kingston area.

2009-2010 Members

Monique Ashamalla, Emma Hume, Nicole Walton, Pooja Punjabi, Melanie Goren, Kyle Gossen, Scott Mainprize, Anna Ward, Richa Kaur, Oren Winer, Erin Joyce, Kellie Gray, Sharon Burnett

2008-2009 Executive

Sharon Burnett, Katie Bouchard, Emily Joyce, Jenni Macko.

2007-2008 Executive

Heather Webb (Law ’09), Cathy Longo (Law ‘10), Jenni Macko (Law ‘10).

2006-2007 Executive

Tanya Rocca, Alastair Clarke, Matthew Morden, Gwen May, Mandy Seidenberg, Heather Webb, and Sharon An.

2002-2003 Executive

Karine Hajje, Nicole Connelly.