During the same year another Canadian, John P. Humphrey, wrote the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and was one of the key United Nations Secretariat figures in the post-war human rights programme.
50 years after, Louise Arbour was to be appointed to the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights.

Attended a convent school, Regina Assumpta College.

When Louise was ten, her parents separated and she was raised by her mother.
As editor of the school newspaper, earned a reputation for impertinence.

Received her B.A from her school.

It was the last classic forming promotion before new programs school.

Graduated with degree in law from University of Montreal.

Graduated with distinction.

After moving to Ontario, worked as a professor at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto).
Was admitted to the Bar in Quebec / Served as law clerk for Justice Louis-Philippe Pigeon, Supreme Court judge.

She met her longtime partner Larry Taman at Osgoode, where is was also a professor. They had three children together, two daughters and a son.
Osgoode is the most prestigious canadian law University.

Worked as a research officer for the Law Reform Commission of Canada.

Was an assistant-professor and a professor of Osgoode Hall Law School.
Was admitted to the Bar in Ontario in 1977.

She wrote many articles in the fields of human rights, civil liberties, gender issues and criminal procedure.

Became Vice-president of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
Campaigned for voting rights for prisoners and developed a reputation for humanitarianism.
Challenged the law that prevented rape victims from answering questions about their prior sexual history to help protect the wrongly accused.

Due to Arbour’s appeal, judges are now permitted to allow questionning of presumed rape victims about their prior sexual history if they decide that they are relevant to the case.
Arbour faced stiff criticism for her views but she persevered with her convictions.

Appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario (High Court of Justice).
Became Associate dean of Osgoode Hall Law School.
In 90, appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Became also a life member of L'Association des Juristes d'Expression Francaise de l'Ontario.

First woman nominated at the Ontario Court of Appel.
Her decisions on social issues made waves, such as the judgment ordering an Ontario school board to educate a disabled child in a regular classroom.
She allowed voting rights for prisoners.

Appointed Head of commission of inquiry to investigate and report at the Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario, into alleged abuses of inmates.

She made recommendations to the Solicitor-General of Canada regarding the operations of Canada's Correctional Service. The results of the Inquiry were so bad that the Head of the Correctional Service of Canada (Commissioner) resigned.

Was appointed as Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, by resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations. Hunt for Justice covers her actions during that period.
Graduated in common law, D.U., University of Ottawa, 1997.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, established in 1993 by the UN Security Council, is located in The Hague, The Netherlands.
In May 1999, Arbour broke new ground by issuing history's first international warrant for the arrest of a sitting head of state-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic-plus four political and military leaders on charges of murder and other crimes against humanity.
Milosevic was arrested april 1, 2001. His death at the Hague came nearly five years after, just before the end of the prosecution (march 11, 2006).

• Achievement Award of the Women’s Law Association, Toronto, 1996.
• Recipient of the G. Arthur Martin Award, Criminal Lawyers’ Association, Toronto, 1998.
• Medal of Honour of the International Association of Prosecutors, 1999.
• Médaille du mérite, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, 1999.
• Prix de la Fondation Louise Weiss, Paris, 1999.

Appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. The appointment took effect on Sept. 15, 1999.
Retired from Supreme Court, on June 30, 2004.

• Pennsylvania Bar Foundation's Second Annual Service to Humanity Award, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 2000.
• Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Four Freedoms Medal (Freedom from Fear), Roosevelt Study Centre, Middleburg, The Netherlands, 2000.
• Women of Distinction Award, Toronto Hadassah-Wizo, 2000.
• Peace Award, World Federalists of Canada, 2000.
• Lord Reading Law Society's Human Rights Award, 2000.
• Wolfgang Freidman Memorial Award, Columbia Law School, 2001.
• EID-UL-ADHA Award, The Association of Progressive Muslims of Ontario, 2001.
• Médaille du Barreau du Québec, 2001.
• National Achievement Award 2001, Jewish Women International of Canada, 2001.
• Stefan A. Riesenfeld Symposium Award, Berkeley Journal of International Law, 2002.
• McGill Centre for Research and Teaching on Women Person of the Year 2002 Award.
• Justice in the World International Prize, International Association of Judges, 2002.
• Médaille de la Faculté de droit, Université de Montréal, 2003.
• Inducted into Hall of Fame, International Women's Forum, 2003.
• Honorary Fellowship, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2003.

• Louise Arbour's Position on Supreme Court Decision s. 43
• Remarks of the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C., for the Retirement Ceremony of the Honourable Louise Arbour Monday, June 7, 2004

Announced she would accept an appointment from Kofi Anan as United Nations High Commissionner for Human Rights.

Arbour is replacing Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was killed in the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad on Aug. 19, 2003.
Time Magazine named Louise Arbour one of the 100 most influential people in 2004.

• Louise Arbour Interview, March 2005
• 'Freedom from want' - from charity to entitlement, by Louise Arbour, March 3rd, 2005
• Presentation to the Canadian Club of Toronto, by Louise Arbour, on June 13, 2005
• Louise Arbour on torture and global efforts to combat it, on December 7, 2005 (UN webcast in Real Video format)
• New treaty to play key role in affirming rights of disabled persons, High Commissioner tells disability convention committee on January 27, 2006