Human rights attorney makes case for public interest law, social justice

Real reconstruction in war-torn Liberia cannot take place without the establishment of an independent judiciary to uphold the rule of law, said Tiawan Gongloe, a prominent Liberian human rights lawyer, during a recent visit to USC Law.

In underlining the need for more champions of social justice, Gongloe recounted his own experience under the violent rule of then-Liberian president Charles Taylor. In 2002, he was arrested, detained and severely tortured for his outspoken remarks about Taylor's human rights abuses.

"That I am living today is a wonder," said Gongloe, who now lives in New York in exile.

Gongloe hopes to return to his native country someday to help establish a nascent justice system. Meanwhile, in recent talks around the United States, he is encouraging law students to pursue careers in public interest law. While public interest lawyers may not earn as much as their corporate brethren, Gongloe said, "it is satisfying to work for humanity."

He said Liberia, which has only 200 attorneys for a nation of more than 3 million, is in desperate need of lawyers who are willing to fight for social justice, even under the threat of violence. Without them, the country cannot hope to create an independent judiciary.

"Very often in my country, what is true is determined by government officials,   he said. "You can be arbitrarily arrested for saying the truth."

He also reminded his audience that America founded Liberia (whose name comes from "liberty") two centuries ago and has unfinished business there.

"The U.S. has a special role to help us establish the rule of law and the respect for human rights," Gongloe said.