The appointment marks the first UNESCO Chair hosted at UBC and one of only two in law schools across Canada.
The University of British Columbia will host its first-ever UNESCO Chair, recognizing the global leadership of legal scholar Dr. Irehobhude O. Iyioha in advancing research and policy solutions at the intersection of health, race and human rights.
The UNESCO Chair on Health, Race and Human Rights was established following the signing of an agreement between UBC President Benoit-Antoine Bacon and UNESCO. The program will connect scholars, policymakers, and institutions around the world to advance research and collaboration addressing racial health inequities.
“UBC is proud to host this UNESCO Chair and to support Professor Iyioha’s leadership on an issue of global importance,” said Dr. Bacon. “This appointment reflects the important role universities play in advancing research and partnerships that contribute to a more equitable world.”
The appointment marks several milestones. It is the first UNESCO Chair hosted at UBC and only the second in a law school in Canada.
“I’m deeply honoured by this opportunity,” said Dr. Iyioha. “Health inequities rooted in structural racism remain one of the most pressing challenges facing societies today. Through this UNESCO Chair, we aim to build on our existing work, advance new areas of inquiry and collaboration, and strengthen a global network of scholars and partners working to better understand these inequalities and develop legal and policy solutions that promote health, dignity and justice.”
Dr. Iyioha is an associate professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law and the inaugural holder of the Hon. Selwyn Romilly UBC Professorship in Race and Access to Justice, named in honour of the late Hon. Selwyn Romilly, the first Black judge appointed to both the B.C. Provincial Court and the B.C. Supreme Court. In this role, she is examining entrenched procedural, substantive, and systemic challenges that impede access to justice, among other projects. Her scholarship focuses on the role of legal systems in advancing human rights, shaping health outcomes and social equity, and promoting dignity and justice for historically marginalized communities. Her work draws on philosophy, law and public policy to examine when law succeeds—and when it fails—in addressing complex social challenges. Before joining UBC in 2024, she held academic appointments at institutions including Harvard University, the University of Alberta, and the University of Victoria, and continues to teach as a visiting professor at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.
The UNESCO Chair will advance an international program of research, teaching and policy engagement exploring how structural racism and discrimination intersect with law and other social determinants of health. The initiative will bring together institutions across the Global North and South to promote interdisciplinary research and strengthen global collaboration.
“The appointment of Dr. Iyioha as a UNESCO Chair is an exciting step towards building the laws and policies needed to fight racism and promote racial equity in Canada and around the world,” said David Schimpky, Director of Secretariat, Canadian Commission for UNESCO. “Her work directly advances the goals of UNESCO’s Roadmap against Racism and Discrimination and reflects the opportunity to translate academic excellence at UBC into meaningful global impact addressing structural and systemic racism and inequities.”
“Dr. Iyioha’s work exemplifies the kind of scholarship that connects rigorous research with real-world impact,” said Gage Averill, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver. “Her leadership on this UNESCO Chair will help deepen global understanding of how law and policy can address health inequities while strengthening UBC’s role in advancing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”
UNESCO Chairs are part of the global UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, which links universities and research institutions around the world to advance research, knowledge sharing and international cooperation on major global challenges.
According to Dr. Iyioha, “At a time of mounting pressure on democratic institutions and racialized communities worldwide, the establishment of this Chair carries particular urgency. Its global mandate has never been more consequential than in this historical moment.”