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Speeches and Discussions

Lasting peace must be rooted in justice and human rights

3 December 2025

Delivering a keynote speech at the CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation’s 25th anniversary, Mary Robinson underscores the enduring vitality of the principles that guided his work.

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2 December 2025

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Elders Statements

Elders warn against bilateral pandemic deals that could impact multilateral cooperation

Juan Manuel Santos

Elders caution that proposed bilateral agreements will damage global cooperation

Elders Statements

The Elders urge an end to the deadly conflicts in Sudan and the DRC

Juan Manuel Santos

The Elders are appalled at the ongoing human suffering in Sudan and the DRC.

Without women, there can be no lasting peace

Denis Mukwege urges decisive global action to end conflict-related sexual violence and ensure women’s full participation in building lasting peace

The architecture which underpins our collective health is under immense strain

7 November 2025

Speaking at the G20 Health Ministerial in South Africa, Helen Clark urged leaders to strengthen multilateralism and invest in equitable health systems, warning that global health is at a crossroads

Speeches and Discussions

Escazú Agreement: Climate action and human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Elders are calling for the early ratification of the Escazú Agreement.

Speeches and Discussions

The spirit of multilateral endeavour is sorely needed in today's troubled and turbulent times

Addressing the Nuclear Disarmament Conference in The Hague, Mary Robinson outlines the steps countries must take to minimise the existential threat to humanity posed by nuclear weapons.

Violence against women is a global injustice

Access to justice is crucial in the fight to end violence against women.

The Elders condemn US shift on Israeli settlements as attack on international law

The Elders today strongly condemned the policy shift announced by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the legality of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories as injurious to peace and an attack on the broader system and values of international law

Japan must act now to regain its status of global climate leader

Japan was once a pioneer of climate leadership. Now, Mary Robinson and CEO of the ECF, Laurence Tubiana urge the country to embrace this role again by leading the technological breakthrough on clean energy systems of the future.

German leadership is critical to ending EIB support for fossil fuels

German leadership is critical to ending EIB support for fossil fuels

Is President Trump abandoning America’s future by quitting the Paris climate accord?

Ban Ki-moon, Deputy Chair of The Elders and Patrick Verkooijen, Chief Executive of the Global Center on Adaptation, call on US President Donald Trump to act on the climate emergency. Published in the New York Times.

One Young World 2019: A dialogue between generations

Mary Robinson, Gro Brundtland and Lakhdar Brahimi attended the 10th One Young World Summit in London in October 2019. Championing intergenerational dialogue, The Elders enjoyed opportunities to speak to and learn from the young leaders attending.

Speeches and Discussions

Moderation is key to working our differences out with respect

Rejecting the extreme Right and the extreme Left as representations of authoritarianism and populism, Juan Manuel Santos urges rising generations to have the collective courage to champion moderation and inclusivity in approaching global challenges.

The Elders in conversation with Jon Snow

Speaking to Jon Snow at One Young World's Mary Robinson and Gro Harlem Brundtland discusses the need for multilateralism to tackle global challenges.

The world needs Latin American leadership on the climate crisis

Warning that without urgent and radical action, we will not bequeath a liveable planet to future generations, Juan Manuel Santos calls for inclusive leadership to tackle the climate crisis.

"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

Work together to build peace, fight injustice and shape a better world

Addressing young leaders at One Young World, Gro Harlem Brundtland defends the concept of global citizenship and calls for collaboration to tackle global challenges.

The Elders call for open access to Kashmir to assess humanitarian and rights situation

The Elders today expressed grave concern at the recent killings by militants and security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir and urged both India and Pakistan to act with restraint and responsibility to defuse tensions.

Together, we can shape a better future for us all

At a time of populism and isolationism, when polarised politics and self-interest have the upper hand, The Elders offer an alternative approach.

The Elders at One Young World

This year the One Young World Summit will welcome The Elders to London to celebrate its 10th anniversary summit.

Speeches and Discussions

Nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to our collective future

Speaking at the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Annual Assembly in Belgrade, Lakhdar Brahimi calls for greater mobilisation against the nuclear threat that echoes the urgency of climate change protesters.

Ban Ki-moon: businesses can lead on refugee integration where leaders fall short

Drawing on his own experiences as a refugee in the Korean War, Ban Ki-moon calls on businesses to combat the xenophobic narrative against refugees. Published in The Independent.

Listening to and learning from girls

For International Day of the Girl Child, Swatee Deepak, Director of With and For Girls, discusses how to provide meaningful support

Speeches and Discussions

Leadership is crucial in this climate crisis - Mary Robinson

"The climate crisis is a battle for our lives and, currently, we are losing." Mary Robinson speaks at the TCFD Summit in Tokyo, Japan.

For South Africa, climate adaptation and economic growth can go hand in hand

The idea that there is a “choice” between economic growth and tackling climate change is absurd and self-defeating: Ricardo Lagos considers the many-sided challenges of economic growth in South Africa.

Hopes raised at UNGA but still much more to do

From universal health coverage, to the climate emergency; the refugee crisis, to access to justice, The Elders’ voice was prominent at the 74th UN General Assembly.

The Elders urge Colombia to defend peace agreement against FARC dissidents

The Elders today called on Colombian President Iván Duque and all political leaders in the country to take all necessary measures to defend and affirm the country’s historic peace agreement.

Speeches and Discussions

The lack of concern and absence of political will risks nuclear catastrophe

Mary Robinson highlights failures around non-proliferation consensus building which has allowed for the termination of several nuclear agreements

Speeches and Discussions

A nuclear weapons-free world is possible with step-by-step disarmament

Gro Harlem Brundtland argues that nuclear disarmament is most likely to be achieved through an incremental process which can secure buy-in from all governments.

World leaders risk climate catastrophe with warm words and no action

As the UN Climate Summit concluded, The Elders appealed to world leaders to act on the outrage of millions of strikers around the world and upscale commitments to end fossil fuel use.

Speeches and Discussions

Strengthen global health security by investing in Universal Health Coverage

Our networked world means that we are only as strong as our weakest link. Gro Harlem Brundtland warns leaders to ensure resilience to epidemics by investing in health systems that are capable of meeting daily challenges.

Speeches and Discussions

Champion Universal Health Coverage to leave nobody behind

Speaking at the United Nations in New York, Gro Harlem Brundtland challenges world leaders to deliver Universal Health Coverage through publicly-financed primary healthcare-led reforms.

Europe's refugee policy is test of its true 'way of life'

Gro Harlem Brundtland and Mary Robinson call on EU leaders to show more solidarity to refugees and share responsibility for resettlement more equitably among member states. Published in the EU Observer.

The Elders stand in solidarity with young people calling for critical climate action

Ahead of the Climate Summit on 23 September 2019, The Elders call on world leaders to take the radical and decisive action needed to curb global emissions, end reliance on fossil fuels and to keep global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Speeches and Discussions

What must States do to deliver justice for all?

Launching the Justice For All Report at the 8th Asia Pro Bono Conference in Nepal, Hina Jilani outlines three key actions required to bridge the justice gap.

Graça Machel: Why Africa must move from fossil fuels to a clean energy revolution

Writing in TIME, Graca Machel asserts that Africa can be the launchpad for a green-energy revolution, but only if governments are more assertive in pushing for clean energy and climate action.

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.

The Elders promote #HealthForAll in South Africa

Gro Harlem Brundtland, Graça Machel and Ricardo Lagos visited South Africa from 2-3 September for discussions with President Cyril Ramaphosa, ministers, parliamentarians and health workers to learn more about the country’s NHI reforms.

Universal health coverage is affordable, even in tough times

Countering assertions that South Africa's health reforms are unaffordable amidst economic challenges, Gro Harlem Brundtland and Ricardo Lagos argue that investment in health represents an effective investment in the economy as a whole.

Elders Statements

The Elders back NHI health reforms in South Africa to build social solidarity

The Elders expressed support for the National Health Insurance (NHI) reforms proposed by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, and urged all stakeholders to act with ambition and urgency to improve publicly-funded healthcare & build social solidarity.

Speeches and Discussions

Public financing could transform the realities of healthcare in South Africa

Gro Harlem Brundtland explains why South Africa's planned National Health Insurance Bill have the potential to turn the country into a leader on UHC in Africa, during The Elders' delegation to the country.

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.

Media Advisory: The Elders to visit South Africa to promote Universal Health Coverage

The Elders will visit South Africa from 2-3 September to promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

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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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