Maritza Chan
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (July 2025) |
Her Excellency Maritza Chan Valverde | |
|---|---|
 Chan at the UN Security Council open debate, 2023 | |
| Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations | |
| Assumed office 15 August 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Rodrigo Alberto Carazo Zeledón |
| Deputy Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations | |
| In office March 2020 – August 2022 | |
| Minister-Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations | |
| In office 2010–2015 | |
| Minister-Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the Organization of American States | |
| In office 2005–2009 | |
| Speechwriter to the President of Costa Rica | |
| In office 1998–2002 | |
| Coordinator, Organization of American States Office in Costa Rica | |
| In office 2015–2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 April 1975 Costa Rica |
| Alma mater | University of Costa Rica Georgetown University |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Profession | International relations |
| Signature |  |
| Website | maritzachan.com |
Maritza Chan Valverde (born 3 April 1975) (Spanish pronunciation: [maˈɾitsa tʃan βalˈβeɾðe] ⓘ) is a Costa Rican career diplomat, academic, and activist. She was appointed Ambassador, and Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations on 26 August 2022.[1] She is the first Costa Rican woman to occupy the role since Costa Rica signed the UN Charter in 1945.[2][3]
Education
[edit]Chan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Costa Rica and a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies and Government from Georgetown University.[4]
Diplomatic career
[edit]Chan began her public service in 1998 as a speechwriter for the President of Costa Rica, until 2002. Between 2002 and 2005, she was assigned to the Costa Rican Embassy in Washington, D.C. From 2005 to 2009, she served as Minister-Counsellor at Costa Rica's Mission to the Organization of American States.[5]
From 2010 to 2015, she served as Minister-Counsellor at Costa Rica's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. In 2018, she returned to Washington, D.C., as Head of the Political Section of the Costa Rican Embassy, serving until 2020.[6]
In March 2020, she was appointed Deputy Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, an office she held until she was appointed Permanent Representative in August 2022.[7]
United Nations leadership
[edit]In June 2024, Chan was elected Chair of the UN General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) by acclamation for its 79th session.[8] She became the first female Permanent Representative to preside over the Committee in the history of the United Nations. She is preceded only by Mona Juul of Norway, who chaired the First Committee in 2006 in her capacity as Deputy Permanent Representative.[9][10]
She served as President of the Fourth Review Conference (RevCon4) of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat, and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held from 18 to 28 June 2024.[11] Chan was also vice-chair of the Open-Ended Working Group on Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management (2022–2023),[12] and served as Costa Rica's lead negotiator during the Arms Trade Treaty negotiations (2010–2015).
In 2025, she also served as vice-president of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.[13] Chan is a member of the International Advisory Council of the International Peace Institute[14] Chan was later elected President of the 70th session of the commission, scheduled to be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 9 to 20 March 2026.[15]
Other international roles
[edit]Chan has served as President of the UNICEF Executive Board in 2022 and as vice-president of the executive board of UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS in 2023.[16] She was elected vice-president of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2025, overseeing the Humanitarian Affairs Segment,[17] and a board member of the UN Democracy Fund.[18]
Role in artificial intelligence governance
[edit]In November 2024, Chan was appointed as one of two co-facilitators for intergovernmental consultations on artificial intelligence governance at the United Nations.[19] The consultations focused on the creation of two proposed mechanisms: an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and a Global Digital Compact dialogue platform. These initiatives were intended to support discussions among Member States on issues related to the global governance of AI technologies. The appointment was made by Philémon Yang, President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.[20]
Honors and recognition
[edit]Chan was recognized by the UN Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), as an agent for change advocating for arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation in 2014 and 2021.[21]
See also
[edit]- Costa Rica and the United Nations
- United Nations
- Organization of American States
- List of current permanent representatives to the United Nations
- Women in diplomacy
References
[edit]- ^ "Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations". United Nations. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Campaign calls for first female UN chief and open selection process". Democracy without Borders. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ Nicholas, Andrew (15 August 2022). "Costa Rica appoints first female ambassador to the UN". Foreign Brief. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Perfil Maritza Chan Valverde". rree.go.cr. Ministerio De Relaciones Exteriores Y Culto.
- ^ "Ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde". United Nations Association of New York. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons - Preparatory Com". unoda.org. United Nations General Assembly First Committee. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Ambassador Maritza Chan". Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Maritza Chan Valverde (Costa Rica) Chair of First Committee" (Press release). United Nations. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ Karamitzu, Shizuka (1 December 2024). "UN Members Conclude Annual Disarmament Discussion". Arms Control. Arms Control Association. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "H.E. Ms. Mona Juul: Seventy-fifth President of the Economic and Social Council". United Nations.
- ^ "The Fourth Review Conference (RevCon4) of the United Nations Programme". United Nations. Office of Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Unveiling the New Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management". United Nations. Office for Disarmament Affairs. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ Ejifoma, Rebecca (11 March 2025). "CSW69: Marking 30 Years of Beijing Declaration, Driving Global Gender Equality". thisdaylive.com. This Day Live. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Multilateralism by the Numbers: What People Want and How to Deliver It". International Peace Institute. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "CSW70 (2026)". UN Women. Commission on the Status of Women. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Executive Board: Accelerating action for adolescent development & resilience, with a focus on girls". United Nations International Children Emergency Fund. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "2025 ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment and ECOSOC Meeting on the Transition from Relief to Development". United Nations. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Executive Board: Accelerating action for adolescent development & resilience, with a focus on girls". unicef.org. United Nations International Children Emergency Fund.
- ^ "Spain and Costa Rica will act as co-facilitators in consultations to stablish an International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance". Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Spain. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "President of the General Assembly appoints co-facilitators for consultations on AI governance platforms". United Nations. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "Women, Forces of Change: The Podcast". Office for Disarmament Affairs. United Nations. Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC). 8 November 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
External links
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