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Elders Statements

The Elders stand in solidarity with Iran protests and demand an end to state violence globally

7 November 2022

Elders Statement: The Elders today call for global consistency in upholding human rights, including women’s rights to self-expression and bodily autonomy, and freedoms of expression and assembly.

Young Justice Leaders: an intergenerational call for justice for all

Mary Robinson joined the Young Justice Leaders at the World Justice Forum to discuss commitments towards justice for all.

Speeches and Discussions

We must work together to make justice for all a reality

At the World Justice Forum, Mary Robinson reiterates the need for inclusive, intergenerational, people-centered justice systems.

No climate action without climate education

Jordan Madden is a young climate activist from the US. He explains why climate education is the basis for climate action. Foreword by Mary Robinson.

The power of civil society in a post-pandemic world

At a time when the foundations of democracy are under siege, we must ensure a vibrant civil society to progress on pressing issues – from economic and educational inequality to racial justice and climate change, says Hina Jilani.

Leading the Youth Climate Movement in the Arab World

Youth climate activist Neeshad Shafi from Qatar emphasises the important role the Arab region ought to play in climate action and calls for civil society engagement to ensure climate action is inclusive and open to all.

“Days marked by death tolls”: Finding hope amid global despair

Youth climate activist Nikayla Jefferson from California writes about her experience as a Black, queer woman in the youth climate movement and how, for her, the climate crisis is one of many existential threats.

Why democracy needs to open its doors to young people to tackle the climate crisis

Linus Dolder, a young climate activist living in Germany, shares his thoughts on youth participation in political processes and why it is crucial to ensure leaders treat the climate crisis with the urgency it requires.

Winning the fight against climate change: The pivotal role of young people

Chibeze Ezekiel, a climate activist from Ghana, reflects on the power of grassroots and youth activism in forcing climate action and the need to allow young people to co-create their futures.

The Elders and The Carter Center Joint Convening with Diaspora Palestinians

On November 19, 2020, The Carter Center and The Elders jointly hosted an online consultation with “Diaspora” Palestinian civil society leaders, analysts, and human rights workers based in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.

Speeches and Discussions

The climate crisis is not a distant threat. It is already here.

Speaking ahead of the Climate Ambition Summit, Graça Machel calls for bold and urgent climate action.

Grassroots organisations are essential to empowering the communities they serve

Frontline justice defenders Nazdeek explain why work like theirs must be urgently and flexibly funded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rebuilding Zimbabwe requires dialogue, solidarity, inclusivity, transparency and accountability

Mary Robinson shares a message of solidarity on the occasion of the third National Citizens Convention in Zimbabwe.

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.

New COVID-19 justice fund targets $1 million for grassroots groups

On the heels of Mandela Day, global leaders and civil society groups are proud to launch the COVID-19 Grassroots Justice Fund to help marginalised and oppressed communities protect their rights during the pandemic and ensure equitable recovery.

2020 must be a year of multilateral action on nuclear arms, climate and gender

Reflecting on the challenges we face as the world enters a new decade, Mary Robinson highlights the importance of multilateralism and collective solidarity

Speeches and Discussions

Gender equality is key to tackling the climate crisis

Speaking on Gender Day at COP25 in Madrid, Mary Robinson calls for inclusivity to be lived out in the actions we all take when tackling the climate emergency.

"We are made of the forest" - Defending the Amazon

Movimento Ipereğ Ayũ is a Munduruku resistance movement of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and one of The Elders' Sparks of Hope. Kabaiwun Munduruku is a Munduruku leader, she shares why she and other women have formed part of this movement.

Speeches and Discussions

True democracy implies solidarity with those to whom it is denied

Graça Machel calls on all sections of African society to assert the power of collective action in supporting democratic values and peaceful transitions across the continent.

The Elders call on Zimbabwe’s leaders to place citizens’ needs over party interests

The Elders call on Zimbabwe’s political leaders and all figures in authority to commit to a truly inclusive national dialogue and prioritise the economic and social needs of ordinary citizens over party politics, factionalism and self-interest.

How can we support communities trying to protect their land and natural resources?

Increased and smarter financing of access to justice is urgently needed to empower communities to protect their lands, writes Sam Szoke-Burke and Kaitlin Y. Cordes of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment.

Delivering justice for all in South Africa: the power of paralegals

Dr Winnie Martins of the Centre for Community Justice and Development highlights the crucial role played by community paralegals in responding to day-to-day justice problems.

Empowered women create empowered societies

Pioneering human rights lawyer and Elder Hina Jilani delivers strong words on women's empowerment at the 2019 Women Deliver Global Conference in Vancouver, Canada.

Speeches and Discussions

Civil society is underappreciated as a partner in delivering justice goals

Speaking at the World Justice Forum, Hina Jilani champions civil society actors as filling the gaps in providing access to justice. But warns they need financial support, and recognition from the legal system.

Standing strong in the wake of increasingly hostile US immigration policies

With the Trump administration expanding a hard-line immigration policy, Greer Millard at The Florence Project highlights the importance of the organisations work with immigrants in Arizona.

The women creating a freer, fairer world

On International Women’s Day we celebrate eleven ideas for a freer, fairer world created by women, for women. These brave women and organisations fight for a world with equal rights and opportunities for women and girls.

Time's up for violence against women and girls

Graça Machel decries the horrifying statistics on the prevalence of violence against women and girls on International Women's Day 2019. First published by Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The women taking on India's domestic violence epidemic

As The Elders launch a new programme on Access to Justice, Elca Grobler, founder of Indian NGO My Choices Foundation writes of the importance of addressing the profound global injustice of violence against women.

The Elders' Access to Justice programme launch

The Elders are launching a new programme on Access to Justice because without justice, the SDGs cannot be achieved.

100 Ideas for a Freer, Fairer World from 100 Sparks of Hope

The Elders chose to honour the 100th anniversary of their founder Nelson Mandela by celebrating 100 Sparks of Hope.

Tracking the transition to a sustainable future

Credible information is key to those advocating for a sustainable world. James Browning and Ted Nace explain how CoalSwarm’s tools power understanding of where the transition to sustainable energy supplies is working – and where it isn’t.

Mary Robinson joins filmmakers shining a light on the urgent human rights issues of today

In her role as Honorary President, Mary Robinson joined filmmakers to celebrate several short films highlighting key human rights issues affecting people across the world today.

Speeches and Discussions

Discrimination: human rights are a preventative tool

Hina Jilani highlights the role of human rights in the struggle against discrimination as we mark the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Speeches and Discussions

Graça Machel speaks truth to power at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit

Addressing the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at the 73rd UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September, Graça Machel reflects on the purpose and relevance of an empowered United Nations dedicated to achieving a better world for all. 

California must remain a beacon on climate and health

Ban Ki-moon highlights the interconnected challenges of climate change and health in major Elders speech.

Stand in solidarity for justice and climate action

As people across the US and around the world #RiseForClimate, Mary Robinson urges politicians and business leaders due to gather at the Global Climate Action Summit in California to heed their call for climate justice.

The mothers of all battles: how the fight against climate change is being led by moms across America

Kelsey Wirth, Co-founder and Chair of Mothers Out Front outlines how mothers, grandmothers and caregivers from across the United States are mobilising to fill the climate leadership vacuum left by those at the highest levels.

Embracing Madiba's values: building a brighter future in Zimbabwe and South Africa

Mary Robinson reflects on her recent visits to South Africa for Mandela's centenary and to Zimbabwe as the country decides its future. 

The Elders call on all Zimbabweans to put national interest first as poll nears

Concluding their visit to Zimbabwe ahead of its pivotal general election, The Elders urge Zimbabweans to work together to ensure a free, fair and transparent poll on 30 July.

“Sparks of Hope” can honour Nelson Mandela’s vision of a better world

Writing in CNN, Graça Machel reflects on what we can learn from Madiba's legacy, and calls on us all to #WalkTogether on his centenary, to continue his long walk to freedom.

Mandela Day 2018: Walk Together to continue Mandela's long walk to freedom

Join Graça Machel, Kofi Annan, Lakhdar Brahimi and Mary Robinson on 18 July, as they celebrate Nelson Mandela's centenary in Johannesburg, South Africa.

#WalkTogether to celebrate 100 Sparks of Hope

Graça Machel reflects on a year of championing the freedoms Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to. She invites you to join with The Elders in continuing Mandela's long walk to freedom.

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

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.

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.

How Massachusetts can blaze a trail for climate action

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 enlighte

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

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.

#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. 

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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
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