Samuel Kofi Woods
Encyclopedia
Samuel Kofi Woods is a Liberia
n human rights
activist, journalist, politician and academic. In 1994, Woods founded and still runs the Forefront Organisation, which documented many of human rights abuses during the Second Liberian Civil War
. He won the Reebok Human Rights Award
in 1994 and received the Pope's human rights medal. Woods graduated as a Master of Arts in Development Studies, specialisation International Law and Organization for Development at the International Institute of Social Studies in Den Haag (NL)
In 2006, Woods became the Minister of Labor
under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. He became Minister of Public Works in 2009 following a cabinet shakeup.
attended ST. Patrick's High School 1981
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist, journalist, politician and academic. In 1994, Woods founded and still runs the Forefront Organisation, which documented many of human rights abuses during the Second Liberian Civil War
Second Liberian Civil War
The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
. He won the Reebok Human Rights Award
Reebok Human Rights Award
The Reebok Human Rights Award honours activists under the age of 30 who fight for human rights through non-violent means. Each year, the award is given to four or five individuals. Each receives a grant of US$50,000 that must be used to support their human rights work. The awards are underwritten...
in 1994 and received the Pope's human rights medal. Woods graduated as a Master of Arts in Development Studies, specialisation International Law and Organization for Development at the International Institute of Social Studies in Den Haag (NL)
In 2006, Woods became the Minister of Labor
Labor relations
Industrial relations is a multidisciplinary field that studies the employment relationship. Industrial relations is increasingly being called employment relations because of the importance of non-industrial employment relationships. Many outsiders also equate industrial relations to labour relations...
under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. He became Minister of Public Works in 2009 following a cabinet shakeup.
Sources
- Interview with Woods at speaktruth.org
- Woods profile at globalrights.org
- Short biography at oxfordjournals.org
attended ST. Patrick's High School 1981