Dr. Oscar Arias S�nchez

Dr. Oscar Arias S�nchez was born in Heredia, Costa Rica, in 1940. He studied Law and Economics at the University of Costa Rica. In 1974, he received a doctorate degree in Political Science from the University of Essex, England. After serving as Professor of Political Science at the University of Costa Rica, Dr. Arias was appointed Costa Rican Minister of Planning and Economic Policy. He won a seat in Congress in 1978 and was elected secretary-general of the National Liberation Party in 1981. In 1986, Oscar Arias was elected president of Costa Rica for a four-year term. Dr. Arias holds international stature as a spokesperson for the Third World. Championing such issues as human development, democracy, and demilitarization, he has traveled the globe spreading a message of peace. In 1987, he received the Nobel Prize for Peace.

In 1988, he used the monetary award from the Nobel Peace Prize to establish the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress. Under the auspices of the Foundation, three programs were established: The Center for Human Progress to promote equal opportunities for women and gender equality; the Center for Organized Participation to strengthen the participation and action of civil society in Central America; and the Center for Peace and Reconciliation to work for demilitarization and conflict resolution in the developing world. From these headquarters, Dr. Arias has continued his pursuit of global peace and human security. Dr. Arias has received honorary doctorates from universities and colleges such as Harvard, Washington, Illinois, Oviedo, Franklin and Marshall, Southern Connecticut, Dartmouth, Ithaca, and Quinnipiac; and several other prestigious educational institutions. He has also received numerous prizes, among them the Jackson Ralston Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award, the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award, the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award, the Liberty Medal of Philadelphia, and the Americas Award.



(created 24 September 2002)
Source: announcement of his appearance at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis on 26 September 2002