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“A fiercely independent and robust force for good”
Nelson Mandela founded The Elders in 2007, setting out his vision of a small group of leaders committed to addressing global challenges - from child marriage to climate change.
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Sudan and South Sudan: return to dialogue
“The terrible lessons of war seem to have been forgotten already.” Desmond Tutu
As Sudan and South Sudan teeter on the brink of war again, The Elders urge the Presidents of the two countries to cease military escalation and return to the negotiating table. Read the press release.
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The Elders is founded on the idea that we now live in a 'global village', an increasingly interconnected, interdependent world.
Whether you're an activist, someone affected by conflict, or you want to share a message: this is a space for you to hear from the people the Elders are working with, join the discussion and connect with other members of our community.
Visit our Global Village.
Latest work
The Elders on Twitter
The Elders’ visit casts a powerful moral clarity. Clearly, our destiny—Palestinians and Israelis—is to live together, as equals. Please call for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions now.
Promoting women’s rights worldwide
Equality for girls and women has been a core focus of The Elders’ work ever since the organisation was founded. To mark International Women’s Day 2012, we revisit some of their work with women in Sudan, the Middle East, Cyprus, Côte d’Ivoire and North Korea.
The Elders
Nelson Mandela
Founder and Honorary Elder
Former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Laureate; a leader who has dedicated his life to the anti-apartheid struggle, democracy and equality; founder of The Elders.
Martti Ahtisaari
Former President of Finland; Nobel Peace Laureate and expert in international peace mediation, diplomacy and post-conflict state building.
Lakhdar Brahimi
Former Algerian freedom fighter, Foreign Minister, conflict mediator and UN diplomat; an expert in peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction.
Gro Brundtland
First woman Prime Minister of Norway; a medical doctor who champions health as a human right; put sustainable development on the international agenda.
Fernando H Cardoso
Former President of Brazil; implemented major land reform programme, reduced poverty and significantly improved health and education; an acclaimed sociologist and global advocate for drug policy reform.
Jimmy Carter
Former President of the United States, Nobel Peace Laureate and veteran peace negotiator; dedicated to advancing peace, democracy and health worldwide.
Graça Machel
International advocate for women’s and children's rights; former freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Mozambique.
Mary Robinson
First woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; a passionate, forceful advocate for gender equality, women’s participation in peace-building and human dignity.
Desmond Tutu
Chair of The Elders
Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel Peace Laureate and Chair of The Elders; a veteran anti-apartheid activist and peace campaigner widely regarded as ‘South Africa’s moral conscience’.
Kofi Annan
Following his appointment as Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, Kofi Annan has temporarily withdrawn from The Elders.