It is my pleasure to tell you about our recent work and the exciting plans we are making.

My fellow Elders and I are following the renewed efforts to bring peace to the Middle East with interest. We visited the region last year and are planning another trip in support of those seeking a just and secure solution for all parties.

We also are pleased to tell you of our new initiative on child marriage - part of our work dedicated to equality for women and girls.

In the developing world, one in three girls is married before she is 18. One in seven is married before she is 15. This practice is tied to tradition, linked to poverty, perpetuates discrimination, and endangers the lives of millions of women and girls.

The Elders recently announced that we intend to build a global alliance to end child marriage.

As Fernando Henrique Cardoso and I wrote, "the lives of the world’s poorest and most marginalised girls and women cannot be improved until the impact of child marriage is addressed."

The Elders are reaching out to community and religious leaders, activists, national authorities, donors and global institutions. But we will need your help, too.

Please visit our website to find out more about child marriage and our commitment to ending it. We will update you on our progress and suggest ways you can get involved.

As I mentioned, direct peace talks have begun between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders for the first time in two years. This is an important opportunity - one that we hope they will take full advantage of.

However, the governments are not the only ones working for peace.

The Elders have met many people both in Israel and Palestine committed to a peaceful coexistence. They often face significant barriers to their work, both physical and political.

One of them is Abdallah Abu Rahmah, an activist in the West Bank village of Bil'in who has led non-violent protests by Palestinians and Israelis against the separation barrier. Abu Rahmah recently was convicted by an Israeli military court for his involvement in the protests, and he faces sentencing soon.

The Elders have called for his immediate release and for his conviction to be overturned.

In this photo, my friend Desmond Tutu has written the name of Honorary Elder Aung San Suu Kyi on his hand, part of a remarkable campaign by Amnesty International.

Raising your palm is a symbolic act of fearlessness in Burma, a land where thousands of people are paying harsh penalties for daring to speak out against the brutality of an oppressive regime.

You can join Archbishop Tutu and show your support for these courageous men and women by adding your photo, too.