Search Results - Arias Sánchez, Oscar

Óscar Arias

Óscar Arias Sánchez (; born 13 September 1940 in Heredia, Costa Rica) is a Costa Rican lawyer, economist, and political scientist. He served as President of the Republic of Costa Rica for two non-consecutive terms: 1986–1990 and 2006–2010. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his peace plan aimed at ending the brutal civil wars that were devastating Central America. In August of that same year, his Peace Plan was endorsed by Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

The plan sought to ensure free elections, protect human rights, and end foreign interference in the internal affairs of these nations. It was a blueprint for promoting democracy and peace in the Central American isthmus during a time of intense turmoil. Thanks in part to Arias’s efforts, the various armed conflicts in the region came to an end over the following decade (Guatemala’s civil war officially ended in 1996).

In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, Arias has received many other honors, including the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award and 93 honorary doctorates from prestigious universities around the world.

Most Notable Honorary Doctorates: {| class="wikitable" |University |Country |- |University of Costa Rica |Costa Rica |- |Harvard University |United States of America |- |Princeton University |United States of America |- |Dartmouth College |United States of America |- |Oberlin College |United States of America |- |Ithaca College |United States of America |- |Washington University in St. Louis |United States of America |- |University of Oviedo |Spain |- |Alfonso X el Sabio University |Spain |- |National Technical University (UTN) |Costa Rica |- |Cecilio Acosta Catholic University |Venezuela |- |University of Salamanca |Spain |- |Bahçeşehir University |Turkey |- |Yonsei University |South Korea |- |Kyung Hee University |South Korea |} International Recognitions: {| class="wikitable" |Award |Country / Institution |- |Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award |United States of America |- |Liberty Medal |Philadelphia, United States of America |- |Jackson H. Ralston Award |United States of America |- |Prince of Asturias Award (Cooperation) |Spain |- |Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award |United States / International |- |Americas Award |International |} He served as a trustee for Economists for Peace and Security, and in 2003 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims of the International Criminal Court.

Arias studied Law and Economics at the University of Costa Rica, and Political Science at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom. He was first married to Margarita Penón Góngora, who served as First Lady of Costa Rica during his first presidential term. They had two children: Silvya Eugenia and Óscar Felipe Arias Penón. He later married attorney Suzanne Fischel Kopper. Provided by Wikipedia