THE B.C. legislative assembly reappointed Kasari Govender as B.C.’s human rights commissioner on Wednesday.
The reappointment follows the unanimous recommendation of Govender by a parliamentary committee comprised of government and opposition members. Govender will begin her second five-year term on September 3, 2024.
“The committee was impressed with Kasari Govender’s work to promote and protect human rights during her first term as commissioner,” said Joan Phillip, chair of the committee. “As B.C.’s first independent human rights commissioner, Govender demonstrated skillful and compassionate leadership to undertake impactful inquiries, interventions in court cases, educational and research activities.”
Norm Letnick, deputy chair of the committee, said: “Kasari Govender has demonstrated a commitment to upholding human rights throughout her career. The committee appreciates that she has built the profile and credibility of the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner and is confident she will continue to be an effective human rights commissioner during her second term.”
The human rights commissioner is an independent officer of the legislature responsible for promoting and protecting human rights in British Columbia. Govender was first appointed on September 3, 2019.
The committee’s report is available here: https://www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/hrc
The members of the committee are:
* Joan Phillip, MLA, Vancouver-Mount Pleasant (chair)
* Norm Letnick, MLA, Kelowna-Lake Country (deputy chair)
* Brittny Anderson, MLA, Nelson-Creston
* Ravi Parmar, MLA, Langford-Juan de Fuca
* Teresa Wat, MLA, Richmond North Centre
Govender has devoted her life to promoting human rights, with a focus on the rights of those most marginalized. In her legal work as a constitutional and human rights lawyer, she has worked closely with people fighting for human rights, including gender equality, Indigenous rights, children’s rights, the rights of people with disabilities, and the rights of racialized people and newcomers. She is passionate about equality rights and using the law as a tool to build a more equal and just B.C.
From 2008 until 2019, Govender held leadership positions at West Coast LEAF and was appointed executive director in 2011. Her earlier work includes a pivotal role in establishing the Rise Women’s Legal Centre, a non-profit legal clinic in B.C. She took office as B.C.’s first independent human rights commissioner on Sept. 3, 2019, and is currently the vice-chair of government relations for the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies. She has co-authored key reports and articles, led the groundbreaking inquiry into the rise of hate during the COVID-19 pandemic and speaks widely on crucial social issues, such as hate speech, gender-based violence, human rights issues in policing, and systemic racism.
Govender earned her law degree from the University of Victoria and has a master’s degree in international human rights law from the University of Oxford, U.K. She has served on the board of directors for the University of Victoria, Pivot Legal Society, the Coalition for Public Legal Services, and the Society for Children and Youth. Govender taught as an adjunct professor of law at the University of British Columbia and as an instructor at Simon Fraser University. She was recognized with the King’s counsel (KC) designation for exceptional contributions to the legal profession in B.C. in 2023.
Her commitment to building a more equal world is inspired by her roles as a mother, an aunt, a daughter and a sister.
