This festschrift honours the remarkable career of Louise Arbour and the indelible impact she has had and continues to have on the development of international law and institutions as Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia (1996 – 1999), United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2004 – 2008), CEO of the International Crisis Group (2009 – 2014) and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for International Migration (2017 – present). She rose to the top rungs of the Canadian legal profession, shaping the law first as an academic and then as a judge, eventually sitting on its highest bench, the Supreme Court of Canada. Of course, Louise's career is not over. Truth be told, we doubt it will ever really be over. This collection of essays is thus not meant as an au revoir or as a celebration of past achievements. She would hate that, and we know her far too well to even consider indulging in nostalgia or panegyrics. Rather, this book is meant as a tribute, which comes at no particularly striking moment, to salute the ongoing contributions of this admired and influential woman, jurist and thought leader. It is also one of the only recognitions we could offer that would stand out in the vast constellation of prestigious prizes and awards she has received over the years!

Louise Arbour is a leader on issues of conflict prevention and resolution, criminal justice, human rights and migration, to name but a few, and her vision often sets the standard. In each of the positions she has held, she has worked with fierce determination and great intelligence to unprecedented effect, and always with a view of advancing the rule of law and respect for human rights. She once said: “Nothing happens without people. Nothing lasts without institutions. Nothing lives without people reinventing institutions.” This uncompromising belief in the human potential to change things for the better has not only been the drive behind her initiatives and successes, but also a true source of inspiration for the countless individuals who have gravitated in her orbit along the years.

The contributors to this collective work are all leading experts on the international stage or in their national jurisdictions and they have interacted closely with Louise Arbour in the course of her extraordinary career.