Elisa Massimino Reflects on Life and Work of Ambassador Rich Williamson

Washington D.C. – Following the death of Ambassador Rich Williamson, Human Rights First President and CEO Elisa Massimino issued the following statement:

“Rich Williamson was a passionate advocate for American global leadership on human rights.  He believed that our country could be a powerful force for good in the world when it stayed true to its ideals, and he devoted his life to ensuring that it did.  Throughout his career, Rich worked with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to support the spread of democracy and prevent mass atrocities. He left an important legacy in Washington and in the world as a dogged advocate for action to prevent genocide and other mass atrocities.  Just this year, he joined with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to lead a working group on the Responsibility to Protect in conjunction with the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the Brookings Institution, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. Ambassador Williamson was an influential and energetic activist in the cause of human rights.  We were honored to work with him and will miss him greatly.”