Ghanaian & Ugandan Criminal Justice Leaders Tout His International Law Enforcement Experience

September 17, 2024

Portland, Ore. – Yesterday, Will Lathrop launched a video highlighting his international law enforcement experience. Will served for 8 years in Africa, protecting women and children from violence and abuse. In 2014, Will joined a global human rights organization to combat criminal land raiders and protect widows and orphans from violence in Uganda, following a 21-year civil war. After three years, Will was promoted to lead the West Africa anti-human trafficking operation in Ghana. There, he led a large multinational team to rescue children from modern day slavery and prosecute child traffickers in court.

With the support of the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under the U.S. State Department, the German Government, and UNICEF, Will and his team of 70 professionals prosecuted child traffickers and rescued child slaves from the fishing industry in Ghana, resulting in a 36% reduction in the number of trafficked children on fishing boats in just a five-year period.

Watch the video titled "Who is Will Lathrop?"

Ghanaian Justice of the Court of Appeal, Georgina Mensah-Datsa, said:

“I got to know Will Lathrop in the course of my work as a Judge when the Institution he was heading, International Justice Mission, organized a Justice Conference dealing with issues on human trafficking. After that, he was involved in training us Judges on various areas of law and skills for adjudication. Will Lathrop's work positively impacted the Justice system in Ghana in improving the prosecution of criminal cases including human trafficking and ensured convictions. The organization he headed in Ghana facilitated the Judiciary and Judicial Service of Ghana in skills training and self care issues that positively impacted the efficiency and effectiveness of our work.”

Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda, Mike J. Chibita, said:

“I know Will Lathrop from his time in Uganda when he was working with one of the NGOs that collaborated and supported the officer of director of public prosecution, where I was director at the time. Will is a team player, a hard working and brilliant lawyer, and is able to work under pressure with people of diverse backgrounds. His work in Uganda has had a great impact, especially for the most vulnerable members of Uganda. Plea bargaining, which he participated in championing, is now fully rolled out in Uganda's judicial system. I wish Will the best in his candidacy. He has the qualifications, the qualities, the temperament, and the experience it takes. Oregon would be better for having him as Attorney General.”

Ghanaian Assistant State Attorney, Office of The Attorney General And Ministry Of Justice, Jessie Tagoe-Korli, said:

“People should know that Will is a very good person, and seeks the welfare of everyone at heart. In the training throughout the regions in Ghana, Will made sure prosecutors were abreast with the law. He made sure they had adequate resources needed to help in their work. And he made sure there was good collaboration with partners in the country to make their work easier. He brought prosecutors together. He brought judges together. He created awareness on the human trafficking law. The justice system is better in the sense that we have more prosecutions now, because of Will’s work.”

Ugandan High Court Judge, Margaret Mutonyi, said:

“During Will’s tenure of office, many women and children were rescued from violence. Many women and children who were victims of violence and injustice were restored to their land and perpetrators of sexual violence, especially against children and women, were prosecuted. He left a legacy in Uganda where justice for women and children, especially gender based violence, has taken on a new face. All judicial offices are now sensitive about Sexual Based Gender Violence. It is no longer business as usual. His contribution led to child friendly procedures while taking evidence of children.”