Active even while a student, he was first arrested in 1981. During the Liberian civil war in 1989 Woods escaped to Ghana, but returned to Liberia in 1991 and founded a human rights organization, the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission.
While still a student, he was arrested for the first time in 1981. During the Liberian civil war of 1989, Woods escaped to Ghana but returned to Liberia in 1991 where he founded a human rights organization, the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission.