Officer of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2005-06-29
Invested on: 2006-02-17
A law professor and committed activist, William Schabas is one of the foremost international authorities on genocide and on the death penalty. A member of several human rights organizations around the world, including the International Institute for Criminal Investigation, he played a pivotal role in the creation of the International Criminal Court in 1998. Now director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, he serves as an example of Canada's contributions to international affairs and enhances our nation's reputation as a peacemaker.