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Speeches and Discussions

Reclaiming Our Common Future: The pursuit of shared purpose in an age of division

Gro Harlem Brundtland

29 October 2025

Gro Harlem Brundtland explores how the climate crisis connects to other global challenges and why global cooperation is essential

Elders Statements

The Elders call for Marwan Barghouti’s release to spur moves to two-state solution

Juan Manuel Santos

29 October 2025

The Elders call for the release of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison as an important step towards reviving a lasting two-state solution.

Speeches and Discussions

The global health security situation today demands collective responsibility

Juan Manuel Santos

Juan Manuel Santos addresses the World Health Summit on the need for renewed multilateralism to protect global health

The UN must take the need for reform seriously

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein calls for honest reflection and bold reform to rebuild the United Nations’ legitimacy and strength for future generations

Elders Statements

US deal must stop Gaza genocide, end occupation and build a just two-state solution

Juan Manuel Santos

The Elders urge all parties to act urgently and in good faith to achieve a lasting ceasefire, free hostages and detainees, and restore humanitarian aid.

Elders react to France, UK, Portugal, Australia & Canada recognising Palestine

Juan Manuel Santos Mary Robinson Helen Clark

Juan Manuel Santos, Mary Robinson and Helen Clark react to the recognition of Palestine by France, UK, Portugal, Australia & Canada.

The UN at 80: Commemoration without candour is unaffordable

22 September 2025

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf addresses the High-Level Meeting marking the UN’s 80th anniversary

Speeches and Discussions

Rio+20 didn’t go far enough - what now?

“Before the conference, you asked me what I wanted to see at Rio+20. I told you that I wanted world leaders to step up, look into each others’ eyes and recognise the urgency, recognise what is at stake. Did this happen? I don’t think so.”Gro Har

Encouraging the path of peace for Sudan and South Sudan

Following the May 2012 visit to Sudan by Jimmy Carter and Lakhdar Brahimi, in July 2012 Desmond Tutu, Martti Ahtisaari and Mary Robinson travelled to the region to further encourage peace efforts between Sudan and South Sudan.

Give 67 minutes to change the world on Mandela Day

Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. His birthday, 18 July, is celebrated as Mandela Day – a day where people can offer 67 minutes of their time to make a difference in the lives of others. Inspired by Mandela Da

Inspiring positive action for Mandela Day

Taking place on 18 July, Mandela Day is inspired by the 67 years that Nelson Mandela gave fighting for justice and human rights and encourages people around the world to give 67 minutes of their time to serve their communities.
During their visit to Lond

South Sudan’s peace dividends: the short and long term goals

“While outsiders such as the AU and the UN can help, what is crucial is for the leaders of Sudan and South Sudan to talk directly and build mutual trust; the task cannot be left to anybody else”
Martti Ahtisaari argues that Sudan and South Sudan need

Five years of working together for peace and human rights: The Elders in London

In July 2012, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson visited London where they took part in a public debate at the Barbican to commemorate the five years since Nelson Mandela founded The Elders. They also held meetings with the UK Foreign Secretary

Bringing intergenerational dialogue to Rio+20

“You have not told us to 'calm down', that we don't need to be radical; you have instead told us that we have the power to make change happen – and that is what we need to hear!” Sara Svensson
In June 2012, following eight weeks of online deba

Finding resilience in a fragile place: the Elders visit Yusuf Batil

"We came to show our solidarity to Blue Nile refugees and to underscore our call for peace" – Desmond Tutu.As the people of South Sudan celebrated their first year of independence, three Elders travelled to the region to encourage dialogue between Sud

Elders Statements

الحكماء يهنؤون جنوب السودان بعيد إستقلالها الأول

Under critical strain: our visit to Yusuf Batil refugee camp

“The camp, which did not exist two months ago, is remarkably well organised. And yet the international community is not doing enough to support them.”
Exactly one year since South Sudan gained its independence, Mary Robinson blogs about the Elders' v

Interview: Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu on Sudan & South Sudan

During their visit to London last week Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson were interviewed by CNN's Becky Anderson about their upcoming trip to Sudan & South Sudan, the current situation there, and what they hoped to achieve. 

Elders Statements

The Elders visit South Sudan in sombre mood and urge continued dialogue with Khartoum

“Dialogue is the only way to resolve differences and to build two viable states; military force is a dead-end, promising nothing but suffering and misery” – Desmond TutuIn a meeting today with President Salva Kiir, and as South Sudan prepares

End the suffering in the Sudans

"We are already witnessing an unbearable catastrophe with the fighting in Blue Nile and South Kordofan in Sudan, and the ensuing outpouring of refugees into South Sudan and Ethiopia."Writing from Addis Ababa at the start of an Elders delegation to Sudan

Celebrating five years of The Elders

Marking five years since Nelson Mandela founded The Elders, Intelligence Squared hosted an event with Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu in conversation with Jon Snow at the Barbican in London on Monday 2 July 2012. Watch the video of the evenin

The Elders on The World Tonight

“What can The Elders do that other groups and organisations, like the UN, can't do?”As The Elders celebrate five years since Nelson Mandela founded the organisation, Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson join Robin Lustig on BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonig

Media advisory: Desmond Tutu and fellow Elders to visit South Sudan and Sudan to encourage peace efforts

Press Conference in Juba on Friday 6 JulyPress Conference in Khartoum on Tuesday 10 JulyDesmond Tutu, Martti Ahtisaari and Mary Robinson visit Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan to support the African Union-led peace talks and to draw attention to the grow

Elders Statements

Reflecting on Mandela’s mission and the global challenges ahead

Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu visit London
Three Elders are in London this week to further their work on some of the biggest issues facing the world today. They will be engaging with the public, meeting parliamentarians and, in the spirit

Forging a peace plan for Syria

“It is time for all who have influence on the parties, and all who bear responsibility for international peace and security, to act positively for peace.”
Writing in the Washington Post, Kofi Annan calls on the international community to support Syri

Celebrating Mandela Day by building a better world

In celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy, Mandela Day encourages all of us to make a difference in our communities. In advance of Mandela Day, three Elders will spend time with grassroots organisations in London and speak at a public event abo

Was Rio+20 a failure of political leadership?

"If government representatives had heard the heartfelt yearning for change, perhaps they would have given their negotiators a stronger mandate: a mandate to create the future we want and which the earth needs."Writing for CNN, Mary Robinson echoes the f

A cruel and unusual record

Elders Statements

Rio+20 is not the response we need to safeguard people and the planet

“This is a ‘once in a generation’ moment when the world needs vision, commitment and above all, leadership. Sadly, the current document is a failure of leadership." Mary RobinsonThe Elders welcome provisions for global Sustainable Development Goal

Tackling poverty and inequality must be at the heart of Rio+20

"We cannot continue to live as we do now."
Writing as Global Ambassador for Oxfam International as Rio+20 begins, Desmond Tutu reflects on the achievements of the first Rio Earth Summit twenty years ago and calls for strong, unequivocal political co

Earth Agonistes

"Like no other generation before, we can choose the type of future that we will leave to the next generation. A transition to a safe and prosperous future is possible, but will require the full use of humanity’s extraordinary capacity for innovation and

Elders Statements

The success or failure of Rio+20 will be a defining moment for today’s youth

"There are 3.5 billion people under the age of 30 in the world today – half the global population. It is their future that is at stake in Rio, not ours." Fernando Henrique Cardoso
As world leaders gather in Brazil for the Rio+20 summit, both Elders and

Video Q&A: Elders+Youngers in Rio

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

Elders+Youngers: it's our future, it's our time

Four Elders and four Youngers. Seven billion people, one planet and one future.Join Elders+Youngers as they take the debate to Rio, where world leaders will come together to decide the planet we leave for future generations.

الجيش والسياسيون والدستور: لماذا من المهم للمصريين جميعا تحديد العلاقة بينهم بشكل صحيح

"الشعب المصري متحمس لمستقبل بلده – ويرفض أن يتم تجاهله بعد الآن".
يتناول مارتي أهتيساري بعض التحديات الرئيسية التي تواجه ميلاد الديمقراطية

We know the problems, we know the solutions – how do we make Rio+20 count?

"When I grow up, I can be an Elder one day"

“We have the largest generation of young persons in the history of mankind; things are changing.”Esther Agbarakwe, a young activist participating in the Elders+Youngers debate speaks about her experience getting involved in the initiative in this in

For the future of our planet, a dialogue between generations

“I share the frustration of millions, outraged at the indifference world leaders are demonstrating towards some of the toughest and most urgent challenges we face today.” Writing in the Huffington Post, Desmond Tutu voices his exasperation with our

Are girls better at saving the planet than boys?

"We think ahead. We are practical. We are inherently more likely to think inter-generationally."In a new Elders+Youngers debate, Mary Robinson argues that because women suffer disproportionately from poverty and social inequality, they are more likely t

The Elders express concern for future of Grameen Bank

In this statement, The Elders express their full support of former Elder Muhammad Yunus after the announcement of a Commission of Inquiry to review the ownership of Grameen Bank, the microfinance organisation founded by Professor Yunus in 1983.

Rio+20's opportunity will be squandered without courage and vision

"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

Does GDP make us happy?

"It is accepted now that high economic growth rates do not necessarily translate into positive social developments but, for lack of consensus on what we should be measuring instead, our leaders remain obsessed with it."Fernando Henrique Cardoso calls fo

Elders Statements

Jimmy Carter and Lakhdar Brahimi in Sudan to support peace efforts

“Building confidence and constructive relations between Sudan and South Sudan is urgent” – Jimmy CarterTwo members of The Elders, former US President Jimmy Carter and former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi, met President Omar Al-Bashir i

“You are going to succeed where we failed”: the Elders meet the ‘Youngers’

“One of the most incredible sources of energy for me is when I am with young people – sorry oldies!” Desmond Tutu
In May 2012 four 'Youngers' – climate change activists from Nigeria, Brazil, Sweden and China – joined the Elders at their bi-annu

How to create the change we want?

“The Elders' generation got agreements signed and solutions designed. But let’s be honest here: most actions for sustainable development are cosmetic, ignorant or thwarted.”27-year old Swedish activist Sara argues for a more radical approach. Exac

Elders+Youngers: live debate in Oslo

What will a cleaner tomorrow look like? How do you empower young people? How can countries with different ideologies and cultures reach a consensus over our environment and development?Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson, and Gro Brundtland debated these questi

Elders Statements

A Rio+20 deve resgatar o futuro, avisam “Elders” e os “Youngers” aos líderes de hoje

“Vocês devem obter sucesso onde nós falhamos” - Desmond TutuThe Elders lançam um debate global jovens líderes para inspirar a mudança urgente necessária para criar um mundo mais igualitário e sustentável, antes da Rio+20.

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#UNGA80 | The UN’s recognition of Palestine is an important step but it cannot be the finish line. This is not the time to say “we’ve done our part”.

It’s the time to act. @HelenClarkNZ urges that recognition must be followed by real change on the ground. pic.twitter.com/KZnqPKCDnH
— The Elders (@TheElders) September 25, 2025

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