FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2025
Contact: Gemma Givens
Washington, DC – The Inter-American Dialogue is proud to announce the launch of its Citizen Security Initiative, a timely response to the growing crime and violence affecting communities across the Americas.
Building on the Dialogue’s expertise on security, the initiative will focus on areas such as combating transnational organized crime, strengthening subnational strategies, fostering cross-border cooperation, and preventing gender-based violence. The initiative is led by Rebecca Bill Chavez, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Inter‑American Dialogue. An expert on the rule of law, democracy, and security, Dr. Chavez has thirty years of experience in academia and U.S. government service, including her time as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs.
“The Inter-American Dialogue is the ideal place to tackle citizen security, combining deep in-house expertise on security with an unwavering commitment to democracy and the rule of law,” said Juan Carlos Pinzón, former minister of defense and former ambassador of Colombia to the United States.
“The Inter-American Dialogue initiative underscores the need to pair enforcement with strong justice institutions and prevention strategies that expand opportunities for youth and rebuild trust between citizens and the state,” said Susana Malcorra, president and cofounder of GWL Voices and former foreign minister of Argentina.
To help shape the agenda and drive impact, the Dialogue has formed a high‑level Citizen Security Task Force, bringing together some of the most respected voices on security and public safety.
- Laura Chinchilla (Costa Rica): former president of Costa Rica; former minister of public security; co-chair, board of directors, Inter-American Dialogue
- Diana Alarcón (Mexico): alternate executive director for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Spain, World Bank Group
- Juan Cruz (United States): former special assistant to the president and senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs, National Security Council
- Lucía Dammert (Chile/Peru): former senior advisor to Mexico’s secretary of public security; former advisor to the ministries of the interior in Argentina and Chile
- María Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador): former minister of foreign affairs and former minister of national defense
- Ivan C. Marques (Brazil): secretary for multidimensional security, Organization of American States
- Juan Carlos Pinzón (Colombia): former minister of defense and former ambassador to the United States
- Anthony W.J. Phillips Spencer (Trinidad and Tobago): former vice chief of defense staff, Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force; former ambassador to the United States and Mexico
- Jaime Pumarejo (Colombia): former minister of housing, territories, and urban development, and former mayor of Barranquilla
- David Smolansky (Venezuela): former mayor, El Hatillo
- Giovanni Snidle (United States): former hemispheric security coordinator, U.S. Department of State
For media inquiries, please contact press@thedialogue.org or visit thedialogue.org.
About the Inter-American Dialogue
Founded in 1982, the Inter-American Dialogue is the premier center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with a network of experts and fellows across the Americas, the Dialogue convenes global leaders and institutions to advance democratic governance, shared prosperity, social equity, and sustainable development across the region.
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