Alex Neve
Encyclopedia
Robert Alexander Neve, OC
(born May 24, 1962) is a Canadian
human rights activist and the Secretary General of Amnesty International
Canada.
Born in Calgary
, Alberta
, the son of Robert Rex Neve and Jean Elizabeth Taylor, Neve received a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1984 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1987 from Dalhousie University
. A few years later, he went to England
to study international human rights law
, receiving a Master of Law degree from the University of Essex
in 1991. He is married to Patricia Goyeche and they have three children.
Neve practised law in Ottawa with a focus in the areas of refugee
and immigration
law. He has been a member of Amnesty International since the mid-1980s and has worked for the organization nationally and internationally in a number of different roles, including missions to Tanzania, Guinea, Mexico, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Honduras, Zimbabwe, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, and Ghana. In Toronto
, he has been affiliated with the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University
and has taught international human rights and refugee law at Osgoode Hall Law School
. He has authored and contributed many reports and studies for Amnesty International as well as legal submissions to parliamentary committees and United Nations
human rights bodies, including the Maher Arar Commission
. He regularly lectures, participates in conferences, and speaks and writes in the national media on a range of human rights topics. Before taking on the role of secretary general in January 2000, he served as a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
. Within Canada, Neve has also been involved with the issue of the Lubicon Cree in Alberta
.
His views on the Lubicon Cree of Alberta can be viewed here http://www.amnesty.ca/lubicon/film.php
, in honour of his human rights work.
In May 2009 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree by the University of New Brunswick
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born May 24, 1962) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
human rights activist and the Secretary General of Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
Canada.
Born in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, the son of Robert Rex Neve and Jean Elizabeth Taylor, Neve received a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1984 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1987 from Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. A few years later, he went to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to study international human rights law
International human rights law
International human rights law refers to the body of international law designed to promote and protect human rights at the international, regional and domestic levels...
, receiving a Master of Law degree from the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
in 1991. He is married to Patricia Goyeche and they have three children.
Neve practised law in Ottawa with a focus in the areas of refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
and immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
law. He has been a member of Amnesty International since the mid-1980s and has worked for the organization nationally and internationally in a number of different roles, including missions to Tanzania, Guinea, Mexico, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Honduras, Zimbabwe, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, and Ghana. In Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, he has been affiliated with the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
and has taught international human rights and refugee law at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
. He has authored and contributed many reports and studies for Amnesty International as well as legal submissions to parliamentary committees and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
human rights bodies, including the Maher Arar Commission
Maher Arar
Maher Arar is a telecommunications engineer with dual Syrian and Canadian citizenship who resides in Canada. Arar's story is frequently referred to as "extraordinary rendition" but the U.S. government insisted it was a case of deportation.Arar was detained during a layover at John F...
. He regularly lectures, participates in conferences, and speaks and writes in the national media on a range of human rights topics. Before taking on the role of secretary general in January 2000, he served as a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada is an independent administrative tribunal. The IRB is responsible for applying the Canadian federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and for making decisions on immigration and refugee matters...
. Within Canada, Neve has also been involved with the issue of the Lubicon Cree in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
His views on the Lubicon Cree of Alberta can be viewed here http://www.amnesty.ca/lubicon/film.php
Awards
On December 28, 2007, Neve was appointed an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, in honour of his human rights work.
In May 2009 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree by the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
.