The B.C. government has appointed Diana Juricevic Vandor as the new chair of the BC Human Rights Tribunal (BCHRT), effective Aug. 1, 2016. Her appointment was made following a merit-based process that included a strong field of candidates.

Juricevic has served as a full-time tribunal member with the BCHRT since 2011. Prior to joining the tribunal, she practised international criminal law in the Netherlands and Cambodia. She was also an adjunct professor and Acting Director of the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law where she taught several courses. At the outset of her career, she practised litigation at a large national law firm in Toronto.

Juricevic has served on several boards, including most recently, the Board of Trustees at the University of Toronto’s Trinity College. She is also a board member of L’Association des juristes d’expression française de la Colombie-Britannique. She holds a Juris Doctor and Master of Economics degree from the University of Toronto as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the same institution.

In 2007, Juricevic was named by the Women's Executive Network as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada and profiled in Chatelaine magazine in 2008 as one of 80 Canadian Women to Watch.

Juricevic’s extensive experience comes with a strong passion for human rights, recognizing that organizations like the BC Human Rights Tribunal are critical in protecting individuals from all forms of discrimination.

As the BC Human Rights Tribunal welcomes a new chair, the Province recognizes the contributions of Bernd Walter. Since August 2010, Walter has held the challenging role of chair for two key tribunals – the BC Human Rights Tribunal and the BC Review Board. Walter will remain in his position until the end of his term on Aug. 1, 2016, and will continue in his capacity of chair of the B.C. Review Board.

Quote:

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton –

“The BC Human Rights Tribunal, through the Human Rights Code, has the responsibility to ensure that British Columbians have equal opportunity to enjoy a life without discrimination. For the past six years, Bernd Walter has fulfilled the role of chair with tremendous dedication, leadership and with an exemplary commitment to procedural fairness. For this, our government thanks him. We are pleased to now welcome Diana Juricevic as the new chair. I am confident she will bring the skills and commitment necessary to make a meaningful contribution to the Human Rights Tribunal and ensure it continues its important work for British Columbians.”

Quick Facts:

• The BC Human Rights Tribunal (HRT) is an independent, quasi-judicial body created by the B.C. Human Rights Code and is recognized as a leader in the protection of human rights.
• The Tribunal is responsible for screening, mediating, and adjudicating human rights complaints.
• Over 1,100 British Columbians receive dispute resolution services, including mediations and adjudications, from the tribunal every year.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Human Rights Tribunal, visit: http://www.bchrt.bc.ca/