DOUGALS ROCHE was elected to Canadian Parliament four times, serving from 1972 to 1984 and specializing in the subjects of development and disarmament. He holds six honorary doctorates. Canada's Ambassador for Disramament from 1984 to 1989, he was elected Chairman of the United Nations Disarmament Committee, the main UN body dealing with political and security issues, at the 43rd General Assembly in 1988.

He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1988. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, former Chairman of Canadian Pugwash and Chairman of the Middle Powers Initiative, a network of eight international non-governmental organizations specializing in nuclear disarmament. In 1995, he received the United Nations Association's Medal of Honour and the Papal Medal for his service on disarmament and security matters. In 2000, he received the Pomerance Award for work at the United Nations on nuclear disarmament.

Roche is the author of seventeen books, including The Human Right to Peace (Novalis, 2003), Global Conscience (Novalis, 2007), and Creative Dissent (Novalis, 2008).