Bio

Erica is an emerging expert on international human rights law. She is currently a Legal Officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade where she provides legal analysis and advice on Canada’s international legal obligations in the area of human rights, and represents Canada in international meetings and during multilateral negotiations relating to human rights.

Previously, Erica gained extensive international legal experience with various organizations in South-East Asia and the Southern African region. In particular, she contributed to a regional development initiative with the Office of the General Counsel of the Asian Development Bank. She also conducted significant research on communal land tenure in developing countries for a professor of law in Singapore. Further, Erica offered legal assistance to refugees while working with a national NGO in South Africa, and provided capacity support to a rule of law initiative while working with the legal profession in Zimbabwe. She also contributed to a justice sector reform project with the United Nations Development Programme in Mozambique.

Erica began her legal career with Macleod Dixon LLP after completing a clerkship with the Law Courts in Edmonton. She holds a dual degree LL.M. from New York University and the National University of Singapore, an LL.B. from Dalhousie University and a B.A. from Concordia University.

Issue of Investigation

As a recipient of the 2009 Gordon Global Fellowship, Erica will investigate the issue of victim participation in international criminal tribunals. The International Criminal Court has adopted groundbreaking practices to ensure victim engagement in the criminal justice process, and a variety of approaches have been adopted in other international criminal tribunals. A comprehensive analysis of these approaches will inform the development of a coherent policy, balancing the interests of victims, the accused and war-afflicted societies as a whole.