Published since 1940 | Vol. 71, No. 1
By Arthur Graham
Synopsis
This paper explores how the creation of a new Canadian Centre for inclusive governance can enable Canada to succeed as a global champion of human rights and good governance under the rule of law. Specifically, the Centre should draw on Canada’s comparative advantages such as bilingualism, multiculturalism, bijuralism, and an inclusive culture of participatory policy-making, to deliver sustainable development and effective aid internationally.
This means delivering assistance in forward-looking, citizen-centred practice fields, which are not now well-resourced by development agencies. It also means building on national and international networks, to deploy expertise from academia, civil society, and government, in addition to law and international assistance practice. With a Canadian knack for teamwork, we should favour cost-effective projects delivered in partnership with organizations with an established field presence. Finally, the Centre should be managed with representatives of the partner sectors – civil society, field practice and university policy and research centres – and the design of the Centre should be led by a core team representing those sectors.
About the Author
Arthur Graham is Head of the Rule of Law and Human Rights Department at the OSCE Mission to Serbia, with a portfolio that includes judicial reform, anti-corruption, human rights in criminal justice, legality in public administration, and war crimes trial monitoring.
A Canadian lawyer, Arthur has been delivering governance assistance, principally in the areas of rule of law and human rights, since 1999. He has served in legal advisory and diplomatic roles and has managed field operations in Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Tunisia for the UN (Peacekeeping and UNDP), OSCE and bilateral aid agencies.
Earlier, as a lawyer and manager with the government of Canada, he worked in policy development and legislative reform. His government experience includes civilian oversight of security intelligence, and executive development – training officials from Canada, Ukraine and Vietnam. He has taught at Carleton University and McGill.
Arthur holds awards for volunteer and community work, including the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal. He has degrees from the University of Cambridge, McGill and Carleton University.