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World leaders must reject the path of chaos

Juan Manuel Santos

8 November 2024

Juan Manuel Santos reflects on his new role as Chair of The Elders, highlights discussions from the recent board meeting in London, and calls on world leaders to act responsibly amid escalating global conflicts

Juan Manuel Santos named new Chair of The Elders

Juan Manuel Santos

31 October 2024

The former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate will become The Elders’ fourth Chair

Juan Manuel Santos hails Spain, Ireland and Norway's recognition of Palestine

Juan Manuel Santos

This morning, Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognised the State of Palestine. Juan Manuel Santos , who as President of Colombia did the same in 2018, hails this landmark step and shares his thoughts on the path forward

Collective resolve can steer humanity towards a better future

Juan Manuel Santos

As the Doomsday Clock points to the precarious state of today's world, Juan Manuel Santos calls for leaders to prioritise long-view leadership and cooperation.

Leaders must commit to bold action for a better future

Juan Manuel Santos

In our latest newsletter, Juan Manuel Santos reflects on UN High-Level Week and The Elders' continued call for bold leadership on the interconnected existential threats facing humanity.

Speeches and Discussions

Cooperation on climate, peace and security is needed now

Juan Manuel Santos

At the UN Security Council meeting on climate, peace and security, Juan Manuel Santos underscored the importance of bold leadership and multilateral cooperation in tackling the interlinked global challenges of the climate crisis and conflict.

International financial institution ambition needed to rebuild trust in multilateralism

In an op-ed for the Financial Times, Juan Manuel Santos calls on World Bank and IMF governors to take the “historic opportunity to address the triple crises of climate, debt and poverty.”

Women must be seen as vital agents for peace

Graça Machel Juan Manuel Santos Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

On International Women’s Day 2023, The Elders call on governments and institutions to support women peace-builders and recognise their essential role in achieving just and sustainable peace around the world.

Unity on Ukraine is unity on peace and justice

Ban Ki-moon Juan Manuel Santos

One year after Putin's invasion, Ban Ki-moon and Juan Manuel Santos affirm that unity in support of Ukraine is crucial for upholding the broader rules-based global order.

Global unity, justice and peace: The Elders’ priorities at the Munich Security Conference

Gro Harlem Brundtland Elbegdorj Tsakhia Juan Manuel Santos Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

The Elders called for global unity in the face of Russia’s war on Ukraine and greater recognition of the impact and challenges this conflict poses for countries in the Global South at the Munich Security Conference.

Why leaders must put children first at COP27

With a foreword by Juan Manuel Santos, Lamisi Awini and Patience Agyekum call on leaders to centre intergenerational justice in their climate action.

The Elders join Chatham House for Ukraine war discussion

Juan Manuel Santos Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

On Monday 17 October, The Elders will host a panel event in partnership with Chatham House on the state of the global response to the war on Ukraine.

Elders Statements

The Elders endorse IAEA’s call for safety and security protection zone at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Ban Ki-moon Juan Manuel Santos

The Elders remain seriously concerned about the risk of a severe nuclear accident at Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s and Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.

Elders Statements

The Elders stress neutrality on Ukraine cannot be an option following Kyiv visit

Juan Manuel Santos Ban Ki-moon

The Elders call for increased international support for Ukraine and stress that neutrality is not a moral option in the face of continued Russian aggression.

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The Elders visit Kyiv to show solidarity with Ukraine

Ban Ki-moon Juan Manuel Santos

The Elders are today visiting Kyiv to show their support for President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression.

With hope and action, we can forge a fairer future

Juan Manuel Santos

Juan Manuel Santos reflects on the state of hope today and the legacies of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

“Impunity in Israel and Palestine is as intolerable as it is in Ukraine”

Juan Manuel Santos

The international community must show resolve in the face of aggression in Israel and Palestine.

Israel’s designation of Palestinian NGOs as “terrorist” undermines core democratic principles

The Elders express their concern at Israel's misuse of anti-terrorism frameworks to restrict civil society.

Elders Statements

The Elders call on African leaders to push for an urgent ceasefire in Ethiopia

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Juan Manuel Santos Ban Ki-moon

The Elders today urged African leaders to intervene to stop the conflict in Ethiopia escalating into a regional crisis and an even worse humanitarian disaster.

Ending violence against women and girls requires the attention of all

Ban Ki-moon Juan Manuel Santos Graça Machel Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein Mary Robinson

Marking the UN’s campaign for '16 days of activism against gender-based violence', The Elders reflect on leaders’ responsibilities, regardless of gender, to end this persistent injustice.

Speeches and Discussions

Leaders have to come up with a pathway to close the gap to 1.5°C

Juan Manuel Santos

Juan Manuel Santos addresses the Sustainable Innovation Forum at COP26, discussing how climate action and preventing biodiversity loss must go hand in hand.

The impacts of climate change: Why biodiversity matters

Priyanka Lalla, a 14-year-old climate activist from Trinidad and Tobago, on the links between biodiversity and climate change, and how and we urgently need to restore nature’s balance.

Peacemaking after the COVID-19 pandemic

Juan Manuel Santos

Juan Manuel Santos reflects on how leaders must foster hope and anchor policies in empathy, solidarity, and a long-term vision of the common good, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speeches and Discussions

The Elders to address the global ‘state of hope’ in a week of activity to mark Mandela Day

From 12 July, The Elders will bring together high-profile voices from across the world to launch a major new initiative to consider the State of Hope in these unprecedented times.

Marking Mandela’s legacy with a week of Elders’ discussion

The Elders’ State of Hope seeks to explore Nelson Mandela's vision in the context of contemporary challenges.

The world remains dangerously off track on climate, The Elders warn ahead of critical UN assessment

The Elders have voiced grave concern about the lack of ambition from many world leaders, as the UN reports back on carbon commitments ahead of the crucial COP26 climate summit in Glasgow this November.

From conflict to climate change: collective efforts are needed to overcome shared challenges

COVID-19 affected every aspect of our lives in 2020, and how we respond to it as a global community has important implications for our approach to other shared, existential threats including climate change and nuclear weapons.

The Elders call on President Biden to reverse the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism

The Elders today called on President Biden to take immediate steps to reverse the decision, taken by the former Trump Administration on 11 January, to redesignate Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Finding Humanity Podcast: critical conversations with The Elders

The Finding Humanity podcast explores the need for empathetic and principled leadership on some of the biggest challenges humanity is grappling with today.

The Elders explore hope, leadership and the COVID-19 recovery in a new series of the Finding Humanity podcast

As the new US President Joe Biden calls for unity in tackling the cascading crises of our era, The Elders embark on a new podcast series looking at the leadership needed to meet the challenges ahead.

The Elders discuss the role forgiveness plays in justice and conflict resolution

The Elders took part in the launch of the Forgiveness Forum, hosted by the Templeton World Charity Foundation.

The Elders reflect on the responsibility of men to end gender-based violence

The Elders call for male leaders worldwide to champion gender equality and take urgent action to combat violence against women

Acordo histórico de Escazú agora pode entrar em vigor

O The Elders dá as boas-vindas à notícia de que, com a décima primeira ratificação do Acordo de Escazú pelo México, o histórico acordo regional sobre o meio-ambiente agora pode entrar em vigor em toda a América Latina e Caribe.

El emblemático Acuerdo de Escazú ya puede entrar en vigor

The Elders recibe con agrado la noticia de que, con la décimo primera ratificación del Acuerdo de Escazú por parte de México, el emblemático acuerdo regional ya puede entrar en vigor en América Latina y el Caribe.

Landmark Escazú Agreement can now enter into force

The Elders welcome the news that with the eleventh ratification of the Escazú Agreement by Mexico, the landmark regional agreement can now enter into force across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Elders Statements

The Elders call for urgent action to address multilateral failings exposed by COVID-19

The Elders call on world leaders to urgently strengthen, defend, and realise the potential of the multilateral system, to end the current disarray in the global order.

The Elders reflect on the 20 years since the UN 1325 Resolution on Women Peace and Security

As we mark the 20th anniversary of UN Resolution 1325, The Elders reflect on what women in conflict mediation means to them.

A Time for Renewal: Calling for a Strengthened Multilateral System

Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon, Hina Jilani, Ricardo Lagos, Graça Machel and Juan Manuel Santos join global leaders to call for decisive action to defend and rejuvenate multilateralism, in an open letter to Heads of Governments.

Speeches and Discussions

We must end fossil fuel use alongside a revolution in nature-based solutions to truly build back a safer and fairer world

Juan Manuel Santos warns that nature-based solutions and the protection of biodiversity are not a substitute for accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels.

Elders join UN75 Global Governance Forum

On 16 and 17 September, Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Hina Jilani and Juan Manuel Santos will join the UN75 Global Governance Forum.

Speeches and Discussions

Juan Manuel Santos: We do not have to choose between a healthy economy and a healthy planet

Juan Manuel Santos calls on G20 leaders to show real leadership in fostering a green recovery from COVID-19, in an address to a virtual session of the F20 High-Level Forum.

Juan Manuel Santos reflects on the present and existential threat of nuclear weapons

August marks a point of sombre reflection for the world as we pause to remember the hundreds of thousands of people who died following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Elders address UK Foreign Affairs Committee on the need for global leadership

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Juan Manuel Santos and Zeid Raad Al Hussein draw on their experiences in office and reflect on challenges facing leaders as they grapple with COVID-19.

In Colombia, it took courage to make peace. I worry Israel is choosing conflict instead

Warning that Israel's threat of annexation risks creating an apartheid-style regime, Juan Manuel Santos draws on his experience of making peace in Colombia, underscoring the importance of the rule of law and respect for universal human rights.

Finding Humanity Webinar: what it means to build back better in a post-COVID-19 world

Mary Robinson & Juan Manuel Santos in discussion with Finding Humanity Podcast host Hazami Barmada on what it means to ‘build back better’ in a post COVID-19 world.

The connection between people and nature

Howey Ou, a climate activist from China, says that just as the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the whole planet, so too does the climate crisis. Warning against inaction, she calls for a collective effort to achieve climate justice.

The world and the Latin American and Caribbean region cannot afford delayed or inadequate responses to COVID-19

Ernesto Zedillo, Juan Manuel Santos, Ricardo Lagos and Elder Emeritus, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, outline the steps and policies the Latin American and Caribbean region must take to mitigate the worst of COVID-19.

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Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon & Ernesto Zedillo enjoyed a good meeting with @antonioguterres at @UN. They discussed global security issues inc. Ukraine and Israel/Palestine, how to strengthen multilateralism amid geopolitical tensions, & plans for the upcoming Summit of the Future. pic.twitter.com/lY1HWKn8Ku
— The Elders (@TheElders) June 27, 2024

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