The Fundación Arias para la Paz y el Progreso Humano (Areas Foundation for Peace and Human Progress) currently works to on violence against women, controlling arms trafficking, implementing the treaty on arms sales, working with women in conflict with the law, and conducting historical research for its 'Museum for Peace' project.

Image credit: Fundación Arias para la Paz y el Progreso Humano

The Fundación was created in 1988 as a result the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Oscar Arias Sanchez. Its mission to support the construction of just and peaceful societies in the region. its work has focused on strengthening civil society, supporting gender equality, demilitarisation, reducing military expenditure and reducing violence.

Image credit: Fundación Arias para la Paz y el Progreso Humano

Among its most important achievements are:

• A campaign to increase the political participation of women in Central America, Acceso de la Mujer a la Tierra (Women's Access to the Land).
• A campaign for the abolition of the army in Panama and Haiti
• The implementation of the treaty on arms transfers, based on the proposal by the Fundación for a code of conduct on arms transfers, the first instrument to combine concerns around human rights and arms sales