SOUTHCOM Celebrates 25 Years of the Human Rights Initiative
MIAMI, Florida (Dec. 1, 2022) – The commander of U.S. Southern Command, Army Gen. Laura Richardson, gives opening remarks at a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the command’s Human Rights Initiative (HRI). More than 100 participants representing Western Hemisphere militaries, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academia gathered at the SOUTHCOM headquarters for the commemoration. Since 1997, HRI has brought together military, public security, government, and civil society representatives from across the hemisphere with the aim of developing comprehensive and effective human rights programs for defense and security forces. (Photo by Jose Ruiz, U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs)