Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress Information

The Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress was founded in 1988 with funding provided by the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize of its founder, Costa Rican President Óscar Arias, in order to cultivate more just and peaceful societies. From its inception, the Arias Foundation has dedicated itself to promoting democracy, gender equality, disarmament and demilitarization in the Western Hemisphere and beyond. It has developed over 400 programs and projects, numerous national and regional forums and has published over 220 documents, manuals and guides. Many of the initiatives implemented by the Arias Foundation have been made possible through the generous support of various world governments, funding agencies as well as Dr. Arias. The Arias Foundation is responsible for having promoted resolutions, which contributed to the abolition of the military in Panama and Haiti. It has also worked to pass legislation in Central America granting political and hereditary rights to women. More recently, the Arias Foundation has supported the ratification and implementation process of the Arms Trade Treaty, the first draft of which was authored by Dr. Arias. Beyond its work with the Arms Trade Treaty, the foundation is currently working on a series of projects related to the topics of security, climate change, disarmament and democracy. The Arias Foundation is a member with special consultative status of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is also a member of the Council of Civil Society from the Inter-American Development Bank. It is also registered as a civil society organization with the Organization of American States (OAS). For more information, visit our website (http://arias.or.cr/) and follow us on Twitter (@fundacionarias) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FundacionArias).