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Speeches and Discussions

The current failure of leadership is not gender neutral

16 October 2024

Mary Robinson delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address at Geneva Peace Week 2024, calling for greater respect for humanitarian law and gender parity in leadership.

Speeches and Discussions

The UN Security Council must step up to protect children in armed conflict

When we recognise women as climate leaders, we support a safer world for all

To mark International Women's Day 2024, Mary Robinson reflects on her recent visit to the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) in India, and considers the pivotal role of women as leaders in tackling the climate crisis.

The Elders and Future of Life Institute release open letter calling for long-view leadership on existential threats

On 15 February 2024, The Elders and the Future of Life Institute release an open letter calling on world leaders to show long-view leadership on existential threats.

اللغة العربية

Living Mandela's legacy: we must keep rising up until the future is safe and just

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.

We cannot stop until there is equity for all: Women Deliver 2023 in pictures

We cannot stop until there is equity for all: Women Deliver 2023 in pictures

Every sector must help tackle the climate crisis

Mary Robinson underscored the critical need for legal and justice institutions to deliver climate action at the 2023 Women Deliver Conference.

Speeches and Discussions

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

2019: a year in review

2019 has been a busy year for The Elders and the world. Find out more about our activities.

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.

Women, girls, and non-binary leaders are demonstrating the kind of leadership our world so badly needs

Women, girls, and non-binary leaders are demonstrating the kind of leadership our world so badly needs

Violence against women is a global injustice

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

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.

Femicide is a crime against all humanity

Ricardo Lagos laments the normalisation of violence against women and girls in Latin America and calls for leadership and investment to end this shameful reality. First published in El Pais in English and Spanish.

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

Putting gender inclusion at the centre of open government

Delivering the closing keynote on gender and inclusion, Mary Robinson calls on women to get involved in political struggles and show solidarity with each other to secure justice and open up the halls of government for our children and grandchildren.

The Importance of Women in Africa’s Transition to a Low- Carbon Economy

At the Mo Ibrahim Governance weekend, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, The Elders and The B Team co-convened a roundtable to discuss challenges and solutions for improving the role of women in the Africa’s transition to a green economy.

Speeches and Discussions

The urgency of women and girls’ leadership in ensuring healthy societies and a healthy planet

Mary Robinson highlights women's achievements in transforming healthcare at the Commission on the Status of Women Side Event: Health for All Through Women's Human Rights.

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.

Speeches and Discussions

Putting human rights at the heart of sustainable development

Mary Robinson describes how promoting and protecting human rights and progress towards the realisation of the SDGs are interrelated and mutually reinforcing.

Five reasons climate change is the greatest existential threat of our time

The Elders explain why urgent climate action is needed now not tomorrow.

Annual Review 2017: #WalkTogether To Spark Hope In The World

2017 was a landmark year for the Elders. We celebrated our 10th anniversary in July and launched our Walk Together campaign to celebrate the freedoms Mandela dedicated his life to: Peace, Justice, Health and Equality. We also welcomed new members Ban Ki-m

Celebrating the global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice

As this year’s International Women’s Day approaches, Hina Jilani reflects on the impressive achievements of global women’s protest movements over the past year and the barriers that remain to overcome.

Speeches and Discussions

Defending women’s rights in turbulent times

Delivering the keynote speech at the EU Colloquium on Fundamental Rights in Brussels on 20 November, Mary Robinson highlighted formidable challenges facing women's rights today and the importance of not losing hope.

Annual Review 2016: Solidarity Beyond Borders

The Elders have published their latest Annual Review. From launching a campaign for Universal Health Coverage to promoting a coordinated international response to refugees and mass migration, read highlights of The Elders’ work from 2016.

How women are breaking the cycle of violence, insecurity and poverty

Dr. Alaa Murabit, UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth, Michael J. Smith and Musarrat Maisha Reza mark International Women's Day by highlighting the link between the empowerment of women and girls and their ability to access

Five ways to realise and protect women’s rights

To mark International Women’s Day, we highlight five perspectives on how to achieve gender equality, including on maintaining the momentum in challenging times and the importance of engaging men and boys.

Elders Statements

The Elders’ statement on US reintroduction of “Global Gag Rule”

The Elders express their concern at the decision by the new US Administration to reintroduce the “Global Gag Rule” which cuts US funding to organisations that help provide abortion services.

Five ways to end violence against women

One in three women worldwide will experience violence in their lifetime. To mark the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we present five different perspectives from members of The Elders over the past ten years, touchin

Elders Statements

The Elders welcome new moves in Africa to end child marriage

We welcome recent action taken by leaders in The Gambia, Tanzania and Uganda to eradicate the harmful practice of child marriage.

Annual Report 2015: Reflecting the past, facing the future

The Elders have released their latest Annual Report. From Climate Change and the SDGs to Equality for Girls and Women and strengthening the UN, read highlights of The Elders’ work from 2015.

Grassroots solutions: the most powerful tools to fight poverty and inequality

Ela Bhatt explains why the poor and marginalised must be considered as both agents and the beneficiaries of change if the Sustainable Development Goals are to be achieved. First published in UNA-UK's "SDGs: the people's agenda" publication.

Farewell from The Elders' CEO

Lesley-Anne Knight reflects on her time as CEO of The Elders, celebrating its successes, and highlighting the challenges ahead.

Rising sea levels: “Our islands will one day be wiped off the map: what will happen to our women?"

Climate activist and poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner marks International Women’s Day by celebrating the strength and resilience of Marshall Islands’ women and highlights the importance of including women in tackling climate change.

Gender equality and climate change: the vital link for success beyond Paris

From assessing the "people-centred" COP21 Paris Agreement and how those on the frontlines can help the world in tackling climate change, to ensuring that women are empowered to make their voices heard, Mary Robinson marks International Women's Day by high

A stronger UN means empowered human rights defenders

To mark Human Rights Day on 10 December, Hina Jilani argues that a stronger UN would deliver more universally implemented human rights. And this year, both are needed more than ever.

How young people can combat violence against women

Violence against women is sometimes justified by abusers and perpetrators as a matter of ‘honour’. In this guest blog to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, youth activist Arifa Nasim from London explains how she

“Religion can empower women and raise their dignity”

Ela Bhatt argues that through religion women can often speak and act as one, empowering themselves in the process.

Women’s Rights in Pakistan: failed by a culture of intolerance and impunity

Following the recent publication of the International Crisis Group report Women, Violence and Conflict in Pakistan, Hina Jilani gives her legal and human rights perspective on its findings and on Pakistani women’s ongoing fight for gender equality.

Supporting social entrepreneurship

This week, Graça Machel and Mary Robinson will be at the Skoll World Forum in Oxford to discuss ethical leadership, climate action and supporting girls' welfare. Watch the live sessions and add your voice to the discussion on Twitter.

Shining a light on India’s poor

'Hariyali', a project initiated by Ela Bhatt's Self-Employed Women's Association, has helped give some of India's poorest women access to affordable energy. William French, Head of International Media at The Elders, explains why it has had such a big impa

"If we hold back women, we hold back society"

To mark International Women’s Day, Elders Desmond Tutu and Graça Machel took to Twitter for a live Q&A. This is a summary of how the event unfolded.

Women’s rights in principle, women’s rights in practice

Deeyah Khan, women’s rights activist and Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, wants to see gender equality not just written into law, but part of everyday life.

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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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