U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), and Ecuadorian Chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces Adm. Jaime Patricio Vela Erazo sign a declaration signifying Ecuador joining SOUTHCOM's Human Rights Initiative. For more than 25 years, the initiative has helped Latin American and Caribbean militaries and security forces engage in open dialogue to advance respect for, and a commitment to, human rights. (Photo by U.S. Southern Command)