Since its creation on the 10th of December 1990, anniversary date of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations' General Assembly, the Human Rights Tribunal has been a key component of the judicial life in Québec.

It began as the first judicial tribunal in Canada specializing in human rights, and its growth has been punctuated by significant developments in both its internal organization and its judicial life per se. Through its privileged ties with other institutions similarly devoted to the respect of human rights in the Canadian and international judicial communities, and through its efforts to give the Charter of human rights and freedoms the broad and generous interpretation linked to its quasi constitutional status, the Tribunal has constantly strived, over the years, to accomplish the important mission the legislator entrusted it with.

Accordingly, independence and impartiality are among the principles that continuously guide the actions of the members of the Tribunal. Inspired as well by the goals of the higher courts, the Tribunal considers effectiveness, promptness and accessibility as cornerstone principles. Beyond this, even though the Tribunal's primary responsibility is to hear and settle the disputes submitted to it, it must also intervene upstream, by participating fully in the development of articulate thoughts on human rights.

In the last few years, the Tribunal has also contributed to human rights education for the judicial community as a whole and especially for those now embarking on their careers, offering thematic sessions in various law schools and training for university students and future lawyers attending classes at the Québec Bar school. On a broader scale, the Tribunal promotes public diffusion of its judgments by making electronic versions available and through press releases for the medias.

The Tribunal draws its life's breath from the judicial community. It also contributes in its own way, as part of the third pillar of government, to the building of an egalitarian society, with proper regard for the principles of fundamental justice and procedural fairness.

It is a unique challenge.

The Honourable Michèle Rivet
President, Human Rights Tribunal