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Our Work

The Elders

The Elders carry out initiatives in two broad areas: promoting dialogue and peace building; and supporting efforts to alleviate human suffering, particularly caused by armed conflict, extreme poverty, injustice or intolerance.

The Elders decide collectively where to focus their efforts. The principles that guide them are that they should always put the interests of humanity first, they should act independently and have no vested interest in the outcome of any issue in which they engage.

Latest Initiatives

Cyprus

Cyprus currently faces its best chance to achieve reunification after decades of conflict and division between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The Elders are actively encouraging efforts to build peace on the island, and have made three visits to Cyprus.

Middle East

Since the Elders were founded they have closely followed events in the Middle East. They recently visited the region for the first time as a group to listen to the people affected by the conflict and to offer their support to all those working for peace.

Equality for Women & Girls

The Elders call for an end to the use of religious and traditional practices to justify and entrench discrimination against women and girls.

Sudan

The Elders’ visit to Sudan in autumn 2007 called the world’s attention to the region’s humanitarian tragedy, demanding an end to the atrocities and displacement of millions of people and urging greater protection for the victims of ongoing violence.

Zimbabwe

The Elders are actively engaged in supporting initiatives to address the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe and efforts to build a stable, prosperous and secure future for its people.

Burma/Myanmar

The Elders support efforts to achieve a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma/Myanmar and the release of all political prisoners including their fellow Elder Aung San Suu Kyi. The Elders always keep an empty chair for Daw Suu Kyi at their meetings.

Eliminating Nuclear Weapons

The Elders strongly support current efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate all nuclear weapons worldwide. Humanity has faced the threat of nuclear war for decades, while nuclear proliferation and the threat of nuclear terrorism pose a growing security challenge. There are currently more than 20,000 nuclear weapons in the world that have the capacity to destroy life on Earth several times over.

Every Human Has Rights

The Elders-inspired Every Human Has Rights campaign reintroduced the Universal Declaration to millions of people around the world and united them in upholding the values that bind our human family.