The Elders

Litigating climate change

Katie Redford of EarthRights International argues that in the United States, lawsuits against fossil fuel companies can help shift the costs of paying for climate change.

A threat to peace

The Elders strongly criticise the US decision to move its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Building a movement to fight inequality

The Elders joined young leaders and activists to celebrate the movements fighting against inequality across the world.

Bridging divides in our polarised world

Seventeen years on from their joint pledge on tolerance and diversity, Mary Robinson reflects on Nelson Mandela's legacy during an event to mark his centenary.

Seize the Olympic moment

Ban Ki-moon calls for continued dialogue to resolve nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Press release 14 June 2018

The Elders urge US, DPRK to build on Singapore summit with hard work for peace

"The Singapore summit offers the hope of a better future." – Ban Ki-moon

The Elders welcome the historic summit and call on both parties to continue serious engagement to make progress towards full denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

News 01 June 2018

Global challenges demand leaders act on principles not populism

"Just solutions depend on a shared understanding of values, responsibilities and priorities by all countries."

Ban Ki-moon urges politicians to have the courage to take difficult decisions rather than pandering to xenophobic or populist pressures.

News 29 May 2018

On climate action and healthcare, it is the young who hold the keys of change

"We are the first generation to understand how serious the climate crisis is and the last generation to be able to do something about it."

Addressing graduating students at the Harvard School of Public Health, Mary Robinson highlights the interrelated challenges of climate change and health - and the potential of young people to seize the opportunity to deliver positive change.

Opinion Mary Robinson, 22 May 2018

How Massachusetts can blaze a trail for climate action

"It is in all our interests to use the political, legislative, and social means at our disposal to deliver an achievable transition to a zero-carbon economy based on renewable energy and keep temperature rises to below 1.5 degrees Celsius."

Writing in the Boston Globe, Mary Robinson praises Boston and the state of Massachusetts –and the role of local activism– for its record on climate action. She commends it as a model for the rest of the United States in the absence of bold or enlightened leadership at a national level.

Press release 10 May 2018

The Elders demand Israel respects international law to stop further Gaza protest killings

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government should exercise the utmost restraint and care over the coming weeks, to avoid further deaths." –Kofi Annan.

The Elders call on the Israeli Government to fully comply with international humanitarian law and respect the right to peaceful protest of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

Press release 08 May 2018

The Elders urge JCPOA signatories to stick to deal despite US withdrawal

"Everyone must do what they can to keep the JCPOA alive and well." – Ban Ki-moon

The Elders strongly condemn President Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Iran nuclear deal and call on other signatories to continue to sustain its spirit and implementation.

News 02 May 2018

#WalkTogether to #FightInequality: a growing movement for systemic change

Reflections from the past month's #WalkTogether events and the increasing momentum to tackle economic inequality and achieve a more equitable world.

Press release 24 April 2018

The Elders warn Brexit “hard border” could pose threat to peace in Northern Ireland

"Peace in Northern Ireland was hard-won and needs to be protected." – Mary Robinson

Hailing the Good Friday Agreement as an inspiration to others around the world, The Elders warn against the imposition of a "hard border" in the event of the UK leaving the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union after Brexit.

Press release 08 June 2018

The Elders urge US to recommit funding for UN Palestinian refugees agency

The Elders urge the United States to recommit funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to prevent a drastic cut in its essential services such as healthcare and education to those in need across the Middle East.

Guest blog Katie Redford, 23 May 2018

Who pays the costs of climate change? In the United States, it might be the oil industry.

Katie Redford, Co-founder and Director of environmental justice group EarthRights International outlines how litigation against the fossil fuel industry can help achieve a fairer solution to the question of who pays for climate change.

News 22 May 2018

Ensuring an Equitable Route to UHC in the Commonwealth

"If Sri Lanka, Rwanda and Malawi can provide publicly financed health care to their people why cannot their wealthier neighbours?"

Discussing progress on UHC around the Commonwealth during the World Health Assembly, Graça Machel argues that delivering publicly financed healthcare is a political choice and challenges leaders to invest in their people's futures.

Press release 14 May 2018

The Elders deplore US Embassy move to Jerusalem as threat to peace

“Unilateral action on the part of the Trump Administration only makes the prospect of a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more distant." –Lakhdar Brahimi

The Elders strongly criticised the US decision to move its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem as a serious blow to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and urged other countries not to follow suit.

Press release 20 April 2018

The Elders urge member states to take action at UN to prevent mass atrocities

"On too many occasions the UN Security Council has stood by and failed to take effective action" - Kofi Annan

The Elders have urged the governments of 31 countries to do more in the face of mass atrocities, by signing a UN Code of Conduct committing them not to obstruct credible Security Council resolutions designed to halt or prevent these acts.

Press release 18 April 2018

The Elders encourage integrity and transparency across Zimbabwe’s transition

"The upcoming elections are an important first step on this path to democratic and civilian government, but they cannot be an end in themselves." - Kofi Annan

The Elders today encouraged all political actors in Zimbabwe to deliver integrity and transparency across the country’s transition, including a level playing field ahead of the upcoming elections.

Nelson Mandela

(1918-2013) Founder

Former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Laureate; a leader who 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.

Kofi Annan

Chair of The Elders

Former UN Secretary-General, Nobel Peace Laureate and Chair of The Elders; put development, human rights, the rule of law, good governance and peace at the top of the United Nations agenda.

Ban Ki-moon

Former UN Secretary-General, former South-Korean Foreign Minister and diplomat; he sought to give voice to the world’s poorest and vulnerable people by putting Sustainable Development Goals, climate change, and gender equality at the top of the UN agenda.

Ela Bhatt

Elder Emeritus

The ‘gentle revolutionary’; a pioneer in women’s empowerment and grassroots development, founder of the more than 1 million-strong Self-Employed Women’s Association in India.

Lakhdar Brahimi

Former Algerian freedom fighter, Foreign Minister, conflict mediator and UN diplomat; an expert in peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction.

Gro Harlem Brundtland

Deputy Chair of The Elders

First woman Prime Minister of Norway and Deputy Chair of The Elders; a medical doctor who champions health as a human right; put sustainable development on the international agenda.

Fernando H Cardoso

Elder Emeritus

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

Elder Emeritus

Former President of the United States, Nobel Peace Laureate and veteran peace negotiator; dedicated to advancing peace, democracy and health worldwide.

Hina Jilani

Pioneering lawyer and pro-democracy campaigner; a leading activist in Pakistan's women's movement and international champion of human rights.

Ricardo Lagos

Former President of Chile; tenacious fighter for democracy and human rights; implemented health reform; and reduced economic inequality while diversifying Chile’s external trade in the era of globalisation.

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

Elder Emeritus

Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel Peace Laureate and Honorary Elder; a veteran anti-apartheid activist and peace campaigner widely regarded as ‘South Africa’s moral conscience’.

Ernesto Zedillo

Former President of Mexico who led profound democratic and social reforms; economist and advocate of multilateralism, inclusive globalisation, nuclear non-proliferation and drug policy reform.

The Elders are independent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity.

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