(Ottawa) - Irwin Cotler, former Montreal MP and former federal Minister of Justice, has been appointed as Special Envoy for Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the establishment of this position, specifically for the founder and president of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.

Mr. Cotler has worked as a human rights lawyer and has provided counsel to many famous prisoners, most notably the late South African President Nelson Mandela. He currently serves as an advisor to Raif Badawi.

In reading the statement specifying Mr. Cotler’s new responsibilities, it stated: "After seventy-five years since the liberation of Nazi concentration and extermination camps that revealed the horror of the Holocaust, Jewish communities in Canada and around the world face a rise in antisemitism."

The statement continued, "For this reason, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today appointed Mr. Irwin Cotler as Special Envoy."

This Special Envoy position is unpaid. However, Mr. Cotler may claim reimbursement for expenses necessary to perform the duties required by his position.

The press release describes the tasks assigned to Cotler as follows: "Mr. Cotler will rely on his knowledge to lead the Canadian government delegation, which will be accredited to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). He will work in cooperation with other member states and national and international partners to support education, remembrance, and research addressing the Holocaust issue in Canada and worldwide."

Trudeau affirmed in the same press release: "Because antisemitism has no place in Canada or anywhere else in the world."