Mauricio Artiñano Guzmán is a foreign affairs, UN diplomacy, and Latin America expert who has served in UN peace operations in South Sudan (UNMISS), Somalia (UNSOM), and, most recently, in Colombia (UNMC and UNVMC), supporting the implementation of the Colombian Final Peace Agreement, including as senior advisor to two UN Special Representatives of the Secretary-General. He initiated the mission’s first youth, peace and security strategy and was invited to present its work at a UN Security Council session in September 2020. From 2008-2009, Mauricio served as the youngest-ever Political Coordinator for a UN Security Council member as a diplomat for Costa Rica during its term on the Security Council.

He has a BA in International Relations, summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a MPA from the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs. He is a dedicated HIV/AIDS activist and helped support former FARC-EP guerilla fighters and their community establish a thriving rafting business and to represent Colombia at the 2019 World Rafting Championships in Australia.