The Canadian Partnership for International Justice Team (CPIJ)

About the Innovation

Led by Professor Fannie Lafontaine, the Canadian Partnership for International Justice (CPIJ) is a pan-Canadian partnership that brings together a team of 25 researchers and practitioners from 12 organizations to strengthen access to justice for victims of international crimes. Contributing to the defence of human rights and the construction of a just and inclusive society, CPIJ’s collective and inclusive approach has changed the way research is done by establishing a cross-sectoral collaboration between universities, legal clinics, NGOs and international organizations.

About the Innovator

Fannie Lafontaine is the director of the Canadian Partnership for International Justice (CPIJ). A lawyer and professor of international law on the repression of international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes), she co-authored the Supplementary Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, “A Legal Analysis of Genocide,” and was an independent civilian observer of the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal’s investigation into criminal offences allegedly committed in Val d’Or by Sûreté du Québec police officers. Having won many awards, she has created a leading centre of expertise in international criminal and humanitarian law by founding the International Criminal and Humanitarian Law Clinic and then obtained the Canada Research Chair in International Criminal Justice and Human Rights. This formative ecosystem was a fertile ground for the collaborations that led to the creation of the CPIJ in 2016. Comprised of 25 individuals with remarkable and complementary academic and professional backgrounds, recognized as leaders in their respective disciplines (law, criminology, political science, gender and feminist studies), the CPIJ team has pooled its innovative ideas to make this partnership a key player in the global network invested in efforts to help achieve justice for victims of international crimes. The CPIJ’s influence is considerable, and the impacts of its actions are widespread and profound.