Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan, and Commander of the US Military’s Southern Command General Laura Richardson, have signed a Human Rights Framework Agreement committing the GDF and US Military Southern Command to “human rights engagement, cooperation and integration”
Guyana is now the thirteenth nation to join SOUTHCOM’s Human Rights Initiative.
The initiative seeks to promote a culture of respect for human rights and to bring together military, public security, government, and civil society representatives from across the Western hemisphere with the aim of developing comprehensive and effective human rights programs for defense and security forces that focused on four crucial areas: doctrine, education and training, internal control systems, and cooperation with civilian authorities.
In a release today, the US embassy in Georgetown announced Guyana’s ascention to the Human Rights pact saying that Human Rights has always been a pillar of the Guyana Defence Force’s operational and administrative mandate and is reflected in its values and standards.
“The opportunity to sign on to the regional initiative demonstrates the GDF’s commitment to the principles and promotion of human rights. The GDF continues to improve its awareness of and respect for human rights,” the US embassy noted.
Through its Human Rights Office, SOUTHCOM previously supported the efforts of 12 countries that committed to implementing human rights programmes in their defense or public security institutions, including the Dominican Republic, which established the first Latin American military school dedicated to human rights education, as well as Colombia and Peru, which also established military schools dedicated to human rights education and training.
Among other things, the HRI has contributed to the development of a Consensus Document on human rights that currently serves as a human rights model.
Under the Human Rights Framework and through membership in the HRI, the GDF has officially formalised its intent to implement the Consensus Document with support from SOUTHCOM’s Human Rights Office.
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