"This year’s BRICS summit is a chance for the world’s rising powers to demonstrate their commitment to the people of Syria at their time of greatest need.”

In an opinion piece published in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Martti Ahtisaari and Fernando Henrique Cardoso call on the leaders of the five 'BRICS' countries to push for unimpeded humanitarian access to Syria.

As world leaders gather in Brazil for Rio+20, the Elders and Youngers answer your questions on sustainable development, the world we want and how we can achieve it.

Watch the Q&A videos of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Mary Robinson and Gro Harlem Brundtland with the Youngers.

"We have not yet seen the necessary courage or political will to turn good intentions into effective, collective action."

In an opinion piece published in newspapers around the world, Gro Brundtland and Fernando H Cardoso outline the key steps that must be taken to guarantee Rio+20's success and lasting impact on sustainable development.

Dans cet article dans Jeune Afrique, Jimmy Carter et Fernando Henrique Cardoso soutiennent que il est grand temps de reconnaître que nous ne pouvons améliorer les conditions de vie des filles et des femmes les plus pauvres et les plus marginalisées sans s'attaquer directement et ouvertement aux conséquences du mariage des enfants - et sans avoir pris l'engagement d'y mettre un terme.

Writing in The Guardian, Jimmy Carter and Fernando H Cardoso observe that child marriage has been a major brake on progress towards six of the eight millennium development goals. They argue that is time to recognise that we cannot improve the lives of the poorest and most marginalised women and girls until the impact of child marriage is addressed directly and openly - and we make a commitment to ending it.