| Major group affiliation: |
- Local authorities
- Women
- Non-governmental organization
|
| Involvement in UN Partnerships: |
Yes |
| If yes, explain in detail: |
In addition to proposing the first draft of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to the United Nations (UN), which ultimately works toward a majority of Sustainable Development Goals, as violence related to arms and smuggling of such instruments impedes development, increases poverty, and detracts attention and public spending from health, education, and the environment, the Arias Foundation has counseled the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNLIREC), the UN Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulations (UNSCAR), and the ATT Voluntary Trust Fund (ATT VTF) and received funding from UNSCAR, ATT VTF, UN Development Programme (UNDP), and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The Arias Foundation has elaborated manuals for the UNHCR, established a baseline for UNDP Infosegura, and participated in the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) activities since 2001. As a result of UN PoA activities, the Arias Foundation has implemented training sessions for local authorities on security issues and gender equality. The Arias Foundation has previously been a member of the UN ECOSOC and maintains a working relationship with the Costa Rican Mission to the UN. |
| Affiliation with other organizations: |
The Arias Foundation is affiliated with the IDB and OAS Civil Society Consulting Groups, International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), Control Arms, Network of Museums for Peace, Princeton in Latin America (PiLA), Peace Jam, and (formerly) ECOSOC. In addition to its affiliations, the Arias Foundation has various agreements with national government entities in Costa Rica, such as the Ministries of Culture, Education, Exterior Relations, and Justice, along with the Office of Migration. |
| Publications: |
Violencia armada y poblaciones vulnerables (2020); Estudios de armas y municiones por país (2020, sin publicación); De la represión al exilio: Nicaragüenses en Costa Rica (2019); Tratado sobre el Comercio de Armas: Normas sólidas para transferencias responsables (2019); El Aeropuerto de Santa Elena: La historia política del Parque Nacional de Guanacaste (2016); Conflicto social: tres países bajo la lupa (2014); Transformar la oportunidad del conflicto: cinco estudios sobre el tratamiento del conflicto en la construcción de un regional para la paz y resolución de conflictos (2013); Mecanismos de control de armas y municiones en el ámbito interamericano (2010); Transferencia de armas hacia y desde América Latina (2009); Manual de capacitación 1: Municipios y comunidad, Intervención local para la prevención de la violencia (2008); Manual 2: Escuela segura, comunidad segura (2008); Manual 3: Observatorio de la Violencia en el ámbito local (2008); La cara de la violencia urbana en América Central (2006); Arms trade treaty: No more arms for atrocities (2005); Armas no gracias, las armas destruyen (2004); Manual de capacitación para personal técnico: Mujeres: Agua, tierra y biodiversidad (2002); Las migraciones y los desplazamientos forzados (2002); La situación del sector agropecuario centroamericano: Retos para la incorporación del enfoque de equidad de género (2001); Democracia sin Ejército. Experiencia de Panamá (2001); Las Bases de la Sostenibilidad de las ONG en Centroamérica (2000); Aiming for Environmental Security in Guatemala (2000); Hacia la Seguridad Ambiental en Guatemala (2000); Confusiones y contradicciones en la identidad genérica de las fuerzas policiales en Centroamérica (1999); Algunas Metodologías de Sostenibilidad - Caso FUPROVI (1999); Hacia la Tolerancia de Género en las Fuerzas Policiales (1998) |
Statements or documents submitted
Commission on Sustainable Development:
|
n/a |
| Publications: |
Embarazo adolescente, vulnerabilidad y pobreza: Un abordaje desde la estimulación temprana a través de la música (2018); Las conserjes del cartel: Mujeres en conflicto con la ley (2018); Manual de acceso a derechos humanos y guía de atención institucional para mujeres privadas de libertad (2018); Poblaciones en condición de vulnerabilidad y en conflicto con la ley (2018); Vulnerables e invisibles: La situación de las poblaciones vulnerables privadas de libertad en Costa Rica 2016-2017 (2018); El conflicto armado y su impacto en la vida de las mujeres (2006); La titulación conjunta de vivienda en Costa Rica (2003); El autofinanciamiento y la cooperación empresarial como mecanismos de sostenibilidad en C.R. (1999); Mujer pobreza y medio ambiente en Centroamérica (1998); La capacitación de las mujeres en el trabajo (1998); Excluidas pobres y desempleadas (1998); Desmovilización, reintegración en El Salvador (1997); Aprobación del código de la niñez y la adolescencia (1997); Honduras taller centroamericano de los derechos de las mujeres (1996) |
| Purpose of the organization: |
The Arias Foundation seeks to promote more just and peaceful societies through involvement at the grassroots and institutional levels inside and outside Costa Rica. Specifically, the Arias Foundation uses a three-pronged approach to development: research, capacity building, and dissemination of information and lessons learned to civil society and public institutions. The Arias Foundation seeks to bridge the gap between vulnerable populations and decision-makers. In this way, the Foundation considers itself a platform where various actors can express their vulnerabilities and shortcomings, and needs and information may be shared across different social sectors. |
| Activities relevant to the conference of States Parties to the convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: |
N/A |
| Confirmation of the activities of the organization at the regional, national or international level: |
The Arias Foundation always shares its best practices to relevant actors both inside and outside the country, offering consultation services and training opportunities to non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, international partners, and government agencies to improve citizen security and livelihoods. The Arias Foundation has historically been a part of training and information sharing at the regional and international level, consulting on arms trade and control and development issues for the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and the Inter American Development Bank. In terms of training sessions and workshops, the Arias Foundation constantly changes its focus while maintaining a strong commitment to gender equality and citizen security. The Arias Foundation approaches development from a bottom-up, South-South approach, launching national and regional projects with international impact and working with entities such as the MacArthur Foundation, the Ford Foundation, HIVOS, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the governments of Finland, the European Union, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and the United States. In the last five years, the Arias Foundation has focused on gender equality for women in conflict with the law and female fishery workers, capacity building with Nicaraguan and Venezuelan refugees, and creating regional synergies on arms trade. |
| A list of members of the governing body of the organization, and their countries of nationality: |
President of the Board: Suzanne Fischel (Costa Rica); Vice President of the Board: Patricia Duggan (United States); Treasurer of the Board: Rodolfo Jimenez (Costa Rica); Secretary of the Board: Alberto Trejos (Costa Rica); Board Member: Steven Jack Aronson Flechter (Costa Rica); Executive Director of Arias Foundation: Lina Barrantes (Costa Rica); Academic Director of Arias Foundation: Ana Yancy Espinoza (Costa Rica) |
| Description of the membership of the organization, indicating the total number of members: |
The membership of the Arias Foundation is composed of the Board (5 members), the Administration (Executive Director, Director of Finance, and the Academic Director), and program officers and administrative assistants (7). The Foundation also has several consultants, one of which being the technology consultant who conducts duties and operations in-house. There are 15 members in total. |
Public Administration and Development Management
| Involvement in Public Administration: |
Since its founding, the Arias Foundation has conducted capacity-building workshops, created manuals and/or guides for civil society and government institutions, proposed new laws and policies based on research and community interventions, and interceded in government transparency, codes of conduct, and the management of public funds and resources. The Arias Foundation maintains close contacts with government officials, maintaining a series of agreements between the Ministries of Culture, Education, Exterior Relations, and Justice, along with the Office of Migration, to facilitate civic discourse and mediate, and intervene on behalf of citizens and vulnerable populations. |
| Publications: |
Cultura de responsabilidad social empresarial: Situación de empleo y juventud (2015); ABC para formación de políticas públicas (2013); Diseño de políticas públicas en los gobiernos locales (2013); El ocaso del presidencialismo costarricense (2008); Hacia un buen gobierno (2007); Los poderes de la negociación (2006); Índice latinoamericano de transparencia presupuestaria (2007); Participación ciudadana en el proceso presupuestario municipal: medio para el desarrollo de nuevas prácticas democráticas en Guatemala (2004); Construyendo ciudadanía: los presupuestos locales, un espacio que garantiza la efectividad de la participación ciudadana en Honduras (2004); Proceso presupuestario municipal y participación ciudadana en Costa Rica (2004); Marco legal para la presupuestación, participación y financiamiento en los municipios de El Salvador (2004); Hagamos las cuentas claras: El caso de Nicaragua (2004); Gerencia con equidad en instituciones públicas (2003); Sistematizando desde la equidad (2003); Indicadores, sistemas de monitoreo y evaluación (2003); Incidencia en la gestión de políticas públicas con enfoque de equidad de género en el sector rural en Centroamérica (2002); Capacitación administrativa: gestión y desarrollo de un proyecto comunal pequeño (2001); Candil en la calle...y luz en la casa: Hacia una gestión y gerencia con equidad (1999); Los Mecanismos para la mobilización de recursos de las ONG en Nicaragua (1998); Los Mecanismos para la mobilización de recursos de las organizaciones de la sociedad civil de Panamá (1998); The State of Philanthopy in Central América (1998); En busca de una legislación que fortalezca la participación acción de la sociedad civil (1996); Once enfoques de la cooperación internacional hacia Centroamérica (1996); Desafíos humanitarios en Centroamérica (1995) |
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