Alfred Brownell
Under threat of violence, environmental lawyer and activist Alfred Brownell stopped the clear-cutting of Liberia’s tropical forests by palm oil plantation developers. His campaign protected 513,500 acres of primary forest that constitute one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots, enabling indigenous communities to continue their stewardship of the forest. For his safety, he is living in temporary exile in the United States.
Human rights defenders working in Liberia face a harsh environment. They are often harassed by the government including judicial harassment, arrest and detention. Liberia has not established a protective legal or policy framework at the national level for human rights defenders. There are no specific laws, policies, or measures to recognize and protect human rights defenders and their legitimate work.
