In a candid and wide-ranging interview with Martin Eiermann for The European, Martti Ahtisaari discusses Europe's role in the world, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the 'responsibility to protect', and why egalitarianism always leads to better societies.

“When the first demonstration happened, I thought: how can they be Jewish?”

In East Jerusalem, Israelis and Palestinians have joined forces to protest settlement expansion into Palestinian neighbourhoods. Six months after The Elders last visited the region, a new documentary tells the story of this shared struggle.

After Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa conclude their two-day summit with a strong statement on the urgent need for humanitarian access in Syria, The Elders welcome their call, urging the five leaders to work with all parties to facilitate the work of humanitarian groups.

"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.

Today’s vote by the Human Rights Council highlights the lack of progress towards addressing Sri Lanka's culture of impunity. The resolution calls on the government to conduct an independent and credible investigation into human rights violations committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war.