A story told can make a difference for those untold
More than one million people in prisons around the world never get access to a qualified lawyer to uphold their legal rights. Too many prisoners are tortured or mistreated. Their stories often remain untold. When a story is told, like that of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, it can have a remarkable effect.
While Mohamedou was captive at Guantanamo Bay he wrote the book Guantanamo Diary inspiring the 2021 film The Mauritanian starring Jodie Foster and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Mohamedou eventually received lawyers, including Nancy Hollander, who were able to get him out of Guantanamo. He was in Guantanamo for 14 years, where he was tortured but never charged with any crime.
Late September this year in Oslo, we were privileged to welcome Nancy Hollander and Mohamedou Ould Slahi for a conversation on the importance of access to a lawyer to get justice. They were joined by Karen Tse, the founder of International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), the preeminent NGO fostering legal rights around the world via a network of defense lawyers in developing countries. The discussion shed light on the difference a lawyer can make. You can see a snapshot of the conversation in this video.
We are a proud supporter of IBJ. If you wish to help IBJ get legal help to those who suffer injustice, you can contribute here.
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Rolf Olsen
CEO, based in Geneva
Rolf Olsen launched Leidar in 2010 and continues to lead the company as CEO. He advises clients on strategy and narrative development; crisis management; and complex reputational issues on a global scale.