Karen Olsen Beck
Encyclopedia
Karen Olsen Beck (New York, January 31, 1933) was First Lady
of Costa Rica
during the governments of Jose Figueres Ferrer
1954-1958 and 1970–1974, Legislative Assemblywoman
and Ambassador
of Costa Rica
, in the United States of America. Her family was of Danish
origin. From an early age she exhibited great interest for social issues
. While a young student, she was involved in several movements promoting solidarity and the defense of the needy.
She married Jose Figueres Ferrer
on February 6, 1954, then president of Costa Rica
. With Ferrer she had four children, including José María
, also president of Costa Rica 1994–1998; and Christiana Figueres
, a specialist in environment and climate change
who is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
.
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
during the governments of Jose Figueres Ferrer
José Figueres Ferrer
José María Hipólito Figueres Ferrer , served as President of Costa Rica on three occasions:1948–1949, 1953–1958, and 1970–1974....
1954-1958 and 1970–1974, Legislative Assemblywoman
Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
The Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Costa Rica. The national congress building is located in the city capital, San José, specifically in El Carmen District in San José Canton.-Composition:...
and Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Costa Rica
Biography
Karen Olsen de Figueres was born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in the United States of America. Her family was of Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
origin. From an early age she exhibited great interest for social issues
Social issues
Social issues are controversial issues which relate to people's personal lives and interactions. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues...
. While a young student, she was involved in several movements promoting solidarity and the defense of the needy.
She married Jose Figueres Ferrer
José Figueres Ferrer
José María Hipólito Figueres Ferrer , served as President of Costa Rica on three occasions:1948–1949, 1953–1958, and 1970–1974....
on February 6, 1954, then president of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. With Ferrer she had four children, including José María
José María Figueres
José María Figueres Olsen , is a Costa Rican politician, businessman and international expert on Sustainable Development and Technology...
, also president of Costa Rica 1994–1998; and Christiana Figueres
Christiana Figueres
Karen Christiana Figueres Olsen was appointed Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on 17 May 2010, succeeding Yvo de Boer. She had been a member of the Costa Rican negotiating team since 1995, involved in both UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol negotiations. She has...
, a specialist in environment and climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
who is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development , informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992...
.