UPEACE David F. Puyana

University for Peace · United Nations · Geneva — Vienna — Paris

David F. Puyana

Ambassador & Permanent Observer of the UN-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) to the United Nations. Chief Diplomatic Officer, Cahero Family Office.

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“The United Nations should play an active role in the field of peaceful settlement of disputes, human rights and development.”

01 — Principles

A vision built on three convictions

Three convictions guide a career devoted to placing the United Nations at the centre of peace, human rights and development.

i

Trust

The United Nations should create the conditions for more trustful relations among nations. Good offices and negotiation succeed only where trust exists between the parties.

ii

Partnerships

New partnerships with regional organizations, civil society, humanitarian actors, think tanks and the private sector — in the pursuit of peace, security, human rights and development.

iii

Ambition

Bringing the United Nations to the centre of peace and development requires ambition, humility, perseverance, effectiveness, vision and strong leadership.

02 — Record

A life of service, in brief

  1. Twenty years of experience in peacebuilding, diplomacy, negotiation and human rights — across civil society, government, the United Nations and inter-governmental organizations.
  2. Architect of the Declaration on the Right to Peace, adopted by the United Nations in 2016 — the first negotiated peace instrument of the twenty-first century (Mission of Costa Rica).
  3. Led the first global UN assessment of peace prospects, mapping the peace and security agenda across all UN Funds, Programmes and Specialized Agencies (Delegation of UNESCO).
  4. Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the University for Peace to the United Nations in Geneva, Vienna and UNESCO Paris.
  5. Facilitated humanitarian talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
  6. Led peace observer missions across 60 countries.
  7. Signed 53 agreements on peace education with governments and higher-education institutions.
  8. Author of eight books and numerous peer-reviewed articles on peacebuilding, diplomacy and negotiation.
  9. Established a U.S. SEC-registered Private Sovereign Reserve dedicated to development, peacebuilding, wealth preservation and the stability of nations.
  10. Chief Diplomatic Officer of the Cahero Family Office.
03 — Explore

Begin the journey

The Diplomat

A life in multilateral service — from Geneva to Paris and Vienna.

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Areas of Work

Twelve fields, one purpose: a more peaceful order among nations.

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Private Sovereign Reserve

Where peace meets the stability of nations.

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