, ▁Peru . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁De ▁S oto ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁ 2 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁in ▁Are quip a , ▁Peru . ▁His ▁father ▁was ▁a ▁Per uv ian ▁diplom at . ▁After ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁military ▁coup ▁in ▁Peru , ▁his ▁parents ▁chose ▁ex ile ▁in ▁Europe , ▁taking ▁their ▁two ▁young ▁sons ▁with ▁them . ▁De ▁S oto ▁was ▁educated ▁in ▁Switzerland , ▁where ▁he ▁attended ▁the ▁International ▁School ▁of ▁Gene va ▁and ▁then ▁did ▁post - grad uate ▁work ▁at ▁the ▁Gr adu ate ▁Institute ▁of ▁International ▁Studies ▁in ▁Gene va . ▁He ▁later ▁worked ▁as ▁an ▁econom ist , ▁corpor ate ▁executive ▁and ▁consult ant . ▁He ▁returned ▁to ▁Peru ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 3 8 . ▁His ▁younger ▁brother ▁Ál var o ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁Per uv ian ▁diplom atic ▁corps ▁in ▁Lima , ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁and ▁Gene va ▁and ▁was ▁second ed ▁to ▁United ▁Nations ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 2 . ▁He ▁retired ▁from ▁the ▁U . N . ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁with ▁the ▁title ▁rank ▁of ▁Ass istant ▁Under - Secret ary - General ; ▁his ▁last ▁position ▁was ▁as ▁the ▁UN ▁Special ▁Co ordin ator ▁for ▁the ▁Middle ▁East ▁Peace ▁Process . ▁He ▁is ▁well ▁known ▁as ▁an ▁international ▁advis er . ▁ ▁Re forms ▁in ▁Peru ▁and ▁elsewhere ▁Between ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁he ▁and ▁the ▁Institute ▁for ▁Liber ty