Founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, we are independent global leaders working together for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet

Ban Ki-moon

Former UN Secretary-General and former South Korean Foreign Minister; championed the world’s vulnerable by putting Sustainable Development, climate change, and gender equality at the top of the UN agenda.

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Gro Harlem Brundtland

First woman Prime Minister of Norway; former Director-General of WHO; a medical doctor who champions health as a human right; and put sustainable development on the international agenda.

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Helen Clark

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and head of the UN Development Programme; Co-Chair of the WHO Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response; an advocate for multilateralism and nuclear disarmament.

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Elbegdorj Tsakhia

Former President and Prime Minister of Mongolia who led his country’s transition to democracy after the fall of the Soviet Union. An international campaigner on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, climate change and democracy.

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Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; champion of international justice and multilateralism; outspoken advocate for peace and human rights; veteran Jordanian diplomat and peacekeeping expert.

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Hina Jilani

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

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Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Former President of Liberia and Africa’s first elected female head of state; Nobel Peace Laureate; a leading promoter of peace, justice and democratic rule; a voice for freedom; and advocate for health for all.

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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.

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Graça Machel

Women’s and children's rights advocate; former freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Mozambique; co-founder of The Elders.

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Mary Robinson

First woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Chair of The Elders; a passionate advocate for gender equality, women’s participation in peace-building, human dignity and climate justice.

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Juan Manuel Santos

Former President of Colombia; a Nobel Peace Laureate who led complex peace negotiations, ending over 50 years of intractable civil war.

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Ernesto Zedillo

Former President of Mexico who led profound democratic and social reforms; a renowned economist; and an advocate of multilateralism, inclusive globalisation, nuclear nonproliferation, drug policy reform and universal healthcare.

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Our Programmes

We work on existential threats to humanity that require a collective response - the climate crisis, pandemics, and nuclear weapons. We also work on conflict, a threat in itself and a risk factor for other threats.

 

View our cross-cutting commitments (multilateralism, human rights, gender equality and women in leadership, and intergenerational dialogue) and find out more about what we do.

View Our Past Work

Past work

Programmes The Elders have worked on previously include...


Access to Justice

Access to justice for all is an important human right. We worked with governments and civil society to help make this right a reality.
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Refugees and Migration

We championed the need for compassion, tolerance and solidarity in response to vulnerable people on the move. ​
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Universal Health Coverage

We made global and country-level interventions to support UHC in the broader context of pandemic preparedness and response, and the SDGs.

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Child Marriage

Child marriage affects millions of girls worldwide. We brought together organisations working locally, nationally and internationally in a global partnership to end this harmful practice.
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Latest News & Insight

Media Releases
Helen Clark joins The Elders as group continues push for courageous leadership on existential threats
Helen Clark Mary Robinson
The Elders today welcomed former New Zealand Prime Minister and UNDP leader Helen Clark as the newest member of their group.
News
At UNGA, leaders must change course on pandemics
Gro Harlem Brundtland Helen Clark
14 Sep 2023
Ahead of the UNGA High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR), The Elders lay out their calls to action for a healthier, safer world.
Newsletters
The time is now for action on climate and pandemics
Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein
04 Sep 2023
In our latest newsletter, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein considers the multilateral cooperation needed on the climate crisis and pandemics as the Africa Climate Summit progresses and the G20 and United Nations General Assembly High-Level week approach.
Guest Blogs
The Loss and Damage Youth Coalition on financing climate justice
30 Aug 2023
The Loss and Damage Youth Coalition on financing climate justice
News
The Elders' calls to action ahead of COP28
30 Aug 2023
The Elders lay out their calls to action that must be delivered ahead of COP28 to ensure climate justice and a liveable future.
Newsletters
Living Mandela's legacy: we must keep rising up until the future is safe and just
Graça Machel
01 Aug 2023
In our latest newsletter, Graça Machel considers Nelson Mandela's legacy, the scale of the nuclear threat, and the vital need for women's leadership in addressing today's urgent challenges.
Photos
We cannot stop until there is equity for all: Women Deliver 2023 in pictures
26 Jul 2023
We cannot stop until there is equity for all: Women Deliver 2023 in pictures
The Elders' Strategy 2023-2027
 Video
Read The Elders' Strategy 2023-2027

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