The Canadian Handbook on International Humanitarian Law

Steve Tiwa Fomekong is a researcher and a lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Laval University. He is a senior education specialist at Equitas-International Centre on Human Rights Education. He is also a member of the research team working on a project entitled: “Promotion et renforcement du droit international humanitaire: Une contribution canadienne” (Osons le DIH) and has been a research fellow and a postdoctoral fellow at the Montreal Centre for International Studies (CÉRIUM). Steve’s research focuses on contemporary humanitarian issues and challenges in Africa, with an emphasis on the protection of vulnerable persons in armed conflicts in Africa. His work has been published in journals, including the International Review of the Red Cross, the African Yearbook on Human Rights, the African Yearbook on International Humanitarian Law, and the Quebec Journal of International Law.

Andrew Thomson, C.D. (Commander, Retired) served for over 21 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a legal officer in the Office of the JAG in a variety of leadership roles. He deployed to Afghanistan and Bosnia where he advised on the law of armed conflict at the tactical and strategic level. He served as the Director of International Law, where he worked closely with colleagues in Global Affairs Canada at home and abroad supporting Canadian initiatives in international law, and the Director of the Strategic Joint Staff Legal Advisor where he and his staff supported CAF leadership in mounting the full spectrum of military activities inside and outside of Canada. He participated in a number of IHL expert groups and meetings on a range of topics. Most recently led the legal team contributing to the Defence efforts to support the third independent review of the military justice system conducted by former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Morris Fish. Upon his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces, he joined the Public Service, where he practices in public law, dealing with national security and national defence subjects. He has an LL.M. from Columbia University, where he was a Harlan Fiske Scholar, with a focus on international law. He has spoken in a number of fora on military law and published about international law in Canada and the U.S.

Catherine Gribbin is the Senior Legal Advisor for International Humanitarian Law for the Canadian Red Cross (CRC). Catherine has worked with the CRC in various legal and policy positions since 2009. In her work with the CRC, Catherine advises on all matters related to IHL for the organization, working with national and international partners on the development and implementation of IHL, and works with various government actors on their implementation and compliance with IHL including training of the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP on IHL and related matters. Catherine worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross from 2017 to 2018 as the Legal Advisor for their operations in Nigeria. Catherine is called to the bar in Ontario and Nova Scotia and is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School.

Christopher Waters is a professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Windsor. He served as Dean of the Faculty from 2015 to 2021. He has extensive field experience in conflict and post-conflict areas, including with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. His academic interests include international humanitarian law, the use of force in international law, international legal history and the role of cities in international law. Dr. Waters is the author of several books, and his articles on international law and armed conflict have appeared in journals such as the Canadian Yearbook of International Law, the American Journal of International Law, and the University of Toronto Law Journal. He is co-editor of the Canadian Bar Review.