A full professor in the Common Law Section, Vice-Dean Manirakiza is widely recognized for his expertise in Canadian criminal law, international criminal law, African international law, and international human rights law. His exceptional commitment, both in academia and on the international stage, reflects his deep dedication to advancing justice.
“Students can expect a very welcoming environment here, one that supports them and facilitates their learning,” says Vice-Dean Manirakiza. “A career in law begins on the first day you enter law school,” he adds. “As a whole, the Common Law Section is committed to the academic training of young people and to ensuring they have everything they need to succeed during their time here.”
Aware of the complex challenges that future lawyers will face, he emphasizes the importance of preparing graduates to meet these head-on: “PCLF professors are very engaged and dedicated. Students can expect to be well equipped to use the law to address the challenges of today’s world.”
Vice-Dean Manirakiza sees this role as “an opportunity to serve not only the legal community, but also Franco-Ontarian and Francophone communities outside of Quebec, in their quest for access to justice in French.” Moreover, as someone who is black, he sees this role as “an opportunity to be a source of inspiration for young people from diverse communities who aspire to a career in law.”
He draws inspiration directly from his students. “Today’s students ask questions that go well beyond the scope of the course — they challenge their professors. It’s inspiring to see this generation of young people who want to push boundaries, learn more, and graduate with the tools they need to serve their minority language communities in accessing justice in the language of their choice,” he shares.
The PCLF occupies a unique place in Canada. Its mission is to guarantee access to justice in French for francophones in minority communities. “We want linguistic minorities to have access to justice in the language of their choice. The PCLF is a unique program: a true pioneer in the teaching of common law in French in Canada,” emphasizes Vice-Dean Manirakiza. This vision builds on the work of his predecessor, Professor Yan Campagnolo.
Under Professor Campagnolo’s leadership, the PCLF became the first law program in Canada to require all students to complete a course on language rights. This initiative strengthened the Faculty’s mission of ensuring access to justice in French outside Quebec. In addition, during his mandate, Professor Campagnolo launched the Common Law en bref collection and co-edited the updated editions of the leading comparative works on Canadian common law and Quebec civil law.
Vice-Dean Manirakiza is the co-chair of the International Law Group at the Faculty of Law, which includes more than 50 law professors.
In 2014, he was appointed a member of the first African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan tasked with investigating serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. He co-authored a report which laid the groundwork for transitional justice initiatives in South Sudan.
In 2014, Professor Manirakiza, as a representative of the African Commission, led a team of lawyers appearing before the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights on behalf of the Ogiek indigenous people of Kenya. The Court’s judgment in this seminal case sets a precedent in the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples in Africa.
As Vice-Dean Manirakiza steps into his new role, the Faculty is proud to count on a dedicated leader with a unifying vision and a commitment to training the francophone lawyers of the 21st century to be capable of providing high-quality legal services.