PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008 - (Page 14)

nATIonAL nEWS International Human Rights — Supporting Liberian victims of Torture W hen rebels launched an attack against the government of the small country of Liberia on December 24, 1989, they set off more than 14 years of violent conflict that would destabilize all of West Africa. Liberia’s civil war was characterized by egregious violations of human rights, including summary execution, widespread use of child combatants, rape and sexual violence, internal and external displacement, separation of families, looting and banditry. The Liberian conflict also spilled over the borders of the country, spawning bloody conflict in Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. The August 2003 peace agreement established the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to “promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation,” and at the same time make it possible to hold perpetrators accountable for gross human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law. DLA Piper’s US and UK offices are participating in a groundbreaking effort to assist the Liberian TRC Diaspora Project, reaching out to individuals who fled their homeland during the civil conflict. DLA Piper has been engaged by The Advocates organization to assist with interviewing individual Liberians and conduct background research for the TRC’s final report. The Liberian TRC Diaspora Project is a new model of transitional justice. Other countries have created truth and reconciliation commissions, but this is the first TRC to make a concerted effort to solicit from diaspora communities both the stories of their experiences and their recommendations for ways to achieve reconciliation. It allows even those who now live elsewhere to participate in and support the transitional justice process. DLA Piper volunteers are currently taking statements from Liberians in many US cities, as well as in the UK. “It has been a pleasure to work with DLA Piper lawyers,” says Laura Young, a lawyer at The Advocates. “Their support for this effort has been phenomenal, from providing in kind donations of space and administrative support, to going above and beyond to reach out to the Liberian community and encourage them to participate.” Brian Patten (Boston) has taken two statements thus far, both involving stories of extreme suffering, hunger, violence, intimidation and the death of family members. “One of the people whose statement I took, spoke of watching his brother executed by being tied up and thrown into a river. Hearing these stories left a huge impact on me,” Brian says. “I felt profound sadness for the people I spoke to who were affected by the conflict and was, once again, amazed by the horrors that human beings can inflict on one another. That being said, I was also inspired by the strength the statement givers showed — both in their perseverance and ability to survive such an ordeal, but also in having the courage to speak about it to a complete stranger in hopes that it will help heal the country of Liberia and its people.” Jane Urban (Boston) took the statement of a widow and single parent who owns and operates a Liberian restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island. The woman witnessed her brother being shot execution style; her nephew was ambushed and murdered simply because they were from the same area where rebel leaders resided. “The opportunity to work with the TRC has profoundly affected me,” Jane says. “Listening to the graphic descriptions of events that took place during the conflict was a truly chilling experience. The loss of community and home that the Liberians have suffered is deeply troubling — I have been repeatedly struck by the resilience and strength that the Liberian community leaders display. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the statement-taking process, a key component in the TRC’s work to promote transitional justice and human rights.” 14 | PRO BONO BULLETIN

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008

PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008 Contents A Firm Response to a Natural Disaster Protecting Our Electorate National News An Interview with Sandy Gohn Mapping Impact FourThought Signature Project Update New Perimeter Launches Addis Ababa Law School Project Awards and Recognition What Our Clients Say About Us

PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.