Gillian Blackell, B.A., Ll.B., Ll.M. Email & Phone Number

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I was the head of the Canadian delegation renegotiating the mutual legal assistance and extradition treaties with the Republic of France. I was also a member of the Canadian delegation to the United Nations (UN) negotiating a Convention on Countering the Use of Information Technologies for Criminal Purposes (Cybercrime). Moreover, I was a member of the Canadian delegation negotiating a multilateral Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation of the Crimes of Genocide, Crimes… Show more I was the head of the Canadian delegation renegotiating the mutual legal assistance and extradition treaties with the Republic of France. I was also a member of the Canadian delegation to the United Nations (UN) negotiating a Convention on Countering the Use of Information Technologies for Criminal Purposes (Cybercrime). Moreover, I was a member of the Canadian delegation negotiating a multilateral Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation of the Crimes of Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes. In this capacity, I was responsible for the Canadian position in relation to mutual legal assistance and extradition for atrocity crimes. Show less

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I was responsible for bilateral negotiations with various countries, including Colombia, to either initiate or update existing extradition and mutual legal assistance treaties. I was also a member of the Canadian delegation to the UN negotiating a Convention on Countering the Use of Information Technologies for Criminal Purposes (Cybercrime). Additionally, I was a member of the Canadian delegation negotiating a multilateral mutual legal assistance and extradition treaty in relation to atrocity… Show more I was responsible for bilateral negotiations with various countries, including Colombia, to either initiate or update existing extradition and mutual legal assistance treaties. I was also a member of the Canadian delegation to the UN negotiating a Convention on Countering the Use of Information Technologies for Criminal Purposes (Cybercrime). Additionally, I was a member of the Canadian delegation negotiating a multilateral mutual legal assistance and extradition treaty in relation to atrocity crimes (Convention on International Cooperation in the investigation of the Crimes of Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes). Show less

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I was the Team Lead for Criminal Procedure and Substantive Law within the Criminal Law Policy Section. In this role, I was responsible for a team of six lawyers as well as Part 1 and the criminal procedure provisions in the Criminal Code. I was the lead for former Bill S-4 (Statutes of Canada 2022, c. 17), Criminal Code reforms in response to COVID-19. Additionally, I led the implementation of former Bill C-75 (Statutes of Canada 2019, c. 8), Criminal Code reforms for justice system… Show more I was the Team Lead for Criminal Procedure and Substantive Law within the Criminal Law Policy Section. In this role, I was responsible for a team of six lawyers as well as Part 1 and the criminal procedure provisions in the Criminal Code. I was the lead for former Bill S-4 (Statutes of Canada 2022, c. 17), Criminal Code reforms in response to COVID-19. Additionally, I led the implementation of former Bill C-75 (Statutes of Canada 2019, c. 8), Criminal Code reforms for justice system efficiencies in response to the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2016 decision in R. v. Jordan. I was a legal advisor to the Attorney General of Canada in the litigation of R. v. Chouhan before the Supreme Court of Canada (2021 SCC 26). I was also the co-chair of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Working Group on Criminal Procedure, that met regularly to discuss trends in the case law, practice and ideas for law reform. Moreover, I led the Criminal Code reforms in relation to former Bill C-3 (Statutes of Canada 2021, c. 8) in relation to judicial reporting of sexual assault decisions. Finally, I was a member of the Canadian delegation for the 30th United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in 2021. Show less

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I was responsible for the management of a multidisciplinary team of eight professionals, an annual budget of $2.5 million as well as providing policy direction for grants and contribution funding (Victim’s Fund) of $11.5 million for Provinces, Territories and non-governmental organizations. I was also responsible for amendments or legal challenges to the victim-related provisions of the Criminal Code as well as the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (Statutes of Canada 2015, c. 13, s. 2)… Show more I was responsible for the management of a multidisciplinary team of eight professionals, an annual budget of $2.5 million as well as providing policy direction for grants and contribution funding (Victim’s Fund) of $11.5 million for Provinces, Territories and non-governmental organizations. I was also responsible for amendments or legal challenges to the victim-related provisions of the Criminal Code as well as the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (Statutes of Canada 2015, c. 13, s. 2). Additionally, I was the chair of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Working Group on Victims of Crime, which met biannually and had representation from the Provincial and Territorial Victim Services. Moreover, I was the co-chair of the FPT Working Group on Access to Justice for Adult Victims of Sexual Assault, that produced a report published in 2018. Finally, I organized a knowledge exchange on the Criminal Justice System Responses to Sexual Assault Against Adults in 2017 and was an instructing counsel for former Bill C-51 (Statutes of Canada 2018, c. 29) amending the Criminal Code to enhance protections for victims of sexual assault. Show less

Ott

I was responsible for a team of six lawyers and an annual budget of $1.1 million, including funding for grants and contributions. I was the Justice Canada lead on the Criminal Code amendments to address forced marriage in former Bill S-7 (Statutes of Canada 2015, c. 29). In addition, I was the Canadian expert at the United Nations meeting on gender-based killing of women and girls in 2014 and at the Organisation international de la francophonie in 2013 for the development of the Plan d’action… Show more I was responsible for a team of six lawyers and an annual budget of $1.1 million, including funding for grants and contributions. I was the Justice Canada lead on the Criminal Code amendments to address forced marriage in former Bill S-7 (Statutes of Canada 2015, c. 29). In addition, I was the Canadian expert at the United Nations meeting on gender-based killing of women and girls in 2014 and at the Organisation international de la francophonie in 2013 for the development of the Plan d’action francophone sur les violences faites aux femmes et aux filles, which was presented to the United Nations in March 2013. Moreover, I was the Canadian expert for negotiations before the Council of Europe for the Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence in 2009 and 2010. Finally, I organized a symposium on the Intersection of Criminal and Family Justice System Responses to Family Violence in 2009, that led to the creation of a working group report Making the Links in Family Violence Cases: Collaboration among the Family, Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems in 2013. Show less

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I was responsible for a multidisciplinary team of 20 professionals and an annual budget of $157 million. The section that I led was responsible for the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Youth Justice Fund (grants and contributions for Provinces, Territories and non-governmental organizations) as well as the National Anti-Drug Strategy. I also led the amendments to the Youth Criminal Justice Act that were contained in former Bill C-10 (Statutes of Canada 2012, c. 1).

Nunavut, Canada

I was a fly-in Assistant Crown Prosecutor in the Nunavut Territory over the summers of 2014 and 2015. I was responsible for prosecuting a wide range of Criminal Code and federal regulatory offences before the Nunavut Court of Justice (both the superior and territorial court).

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I was responsible for the trafficking in persons file for the Department of Justice and was the co-chair of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. In this capacity, I organized a workshop on human trafficking in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration in 2004 and developed an anti-trafficking pamphlet that was published in 14 languages. In addition, I was the Canadian representative for the negotiations of the Council of Europe Convention on… Show more I was responsible for the trafficking in persons file for the Department of Justice and was the co-chair of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. In this capacity, I organized a workshop on human trafficking in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration in 2004 and developed an anti-trafficking pamphlet that was published in 14 languages. In addition, I was the Canadian representative for the negotiations of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. I was also a member of the Canadian delegation presenting Canada’s Fifth Report to the United Nations Committee on the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Show less

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I was responsible for legal policy analysis of federal government policies, primarily in relation to criminal justice. I was a member of the Canadian delegation that negotiated the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Girls, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Additionally, I was the chair of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, which coordinated the Canadian… Show more I was responsible for legal policy analysis of federal government policies, primarily in relation to criminal justice. I was a member of the Canadian delegation that negotiated the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Girls, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Additionally, I was the chair of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, which coordinated the Canadian position for the international negotiations and advised on domestic policy. Moreover, I was a member of the Canadian delegation that negotiated the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Finally, I was a co-drafter of the report Assessing Violence Against Women: A Statistical Profile, FPT Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women, 2002 Show less

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I developed legal policy in relation to substantive law and criminal procedure. In this capacity I was the main counsel responsible for the development and drafting of an entry warrant for arrest regime in the Criminal Code (former Bill C16, Statutes of Canada 1997, c.23). I was also the co-drafter of the consultation document Reforming Criminal Code Defences: Provocation, Self-Defence and Defence of Property (Department of Justice, 1998).

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I was responsible for analyzing legal argument, conducting legal research, proposing litigation outcomes, assisting in drafting judgements and organizing education seminars for the law clerks.

Master Of Laws - Llm, Human Rights Law

Master’s thesis on gender equality.

Bachelor Of Civil Law, Law

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Political Science And Government