Editing University for Peace (section)

== Headquarters and main campus ==

The main campus of the university - the [[Rodrigo Carazo Odio|Rodrigo Carazo]] Campus - is located 30 km south-west of San José, Costa Rica. Most master's and doctoral programmes are administered from this location. The university has a mix of both resident and visiting faculty members. 

The closest town to the mountain on which the university is perched is [[Ciudad Colon|Ciudad Colón]], which is where most of the students, staff, and faculty members of the university reside.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica - City Guide |url=https://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=227 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Go Visit Costa Rica |language=en}}</ref>

=== Earth Charter Initiative ===
The main campus of the University for Peace hosts the International Secretariat of the [[Earth Charter Initiative]], whose stated mission is "to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, [[universality (philosophy)|universal]] human rights, respect for diversity, [[economic justice]], [[democracy]], and a culture of peace." This mission is carried out using the [[The Earth Charter|Earth Charter]] as the principal guiding framework.  

In 2012, the Earth Charter Initiative and the University for Peace were jointly awarded the UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Development and the Earth Charter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corporate Sustainability Reporting Project Description on the Earth Charter Center on Education For Sustainable Development |url=https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/corporate-sustainability-reporting |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs}}</ref> The work related to this UNESCO chair is carried out at the 'Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.edu.int/edu-news/earth-charter-center-for-education-for-sustainable-development-upeace-renews-edu-accreditation | title=Center for Education for Sustainable Development (UPEACE) renews EDU Accreditation }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Short History of the Earth Charter Initiative |url=http://www.earthcharterchina.org/eng/history2.html |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=www.earthcharterchina.org}}</ref> which opened at the UPEACE main campus in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2014 |title=Earth Charter International: Inauguration and International Conference |url=https://earthcharter.org/earth-charter-international-inauguration-and-international-conference/ |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Earth Charter International}}</ref>[[File:Peace Park.jpg|thumb|Peace Park at the University for Peace]]

=== Peace Park and nature reserve ===
The campus is surrounded by a natural reserve (Peace Park) composed of a secondary forest and the last remnant of primary forest (200 ha) in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. It shelters mammals such as monkeys and deer, reptiles, and over 300 species of birds, as well as approximately 100 varieties of trees. The university's installations and protected area make up 303 ha. The park contains several hiking trails and monuments to peacebuilders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Tico |date=2016-07-25 |title=University for Peace brings a global community to Ciudad Colón |url=https://ticotimes.net/2016/07/25/university-peace |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=The Tico Times {{!}} Costa Rica News {{!}} Travel {{!}} Real Estate |language=en-US}}</ref>