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Speeches and Discussions

Nature must no longer be a silent victim of war

20 November 2024

Mary Robinson highlights the environmental impact of conflicts during the Ukraine Pavilion panel at COP29

This is President Lula’s moment to cement his status as a global climate leader

Graça Machel Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

19 November 2024

Graça Machel and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf write for Le Monde Diplomatique Brasil, urging President Lula to lead the G20 in advancing climate justice

Graça Machel warns of signs of ethnic cleansing in Gaza

Graça Machel warns of alarming signs of ethnic cleansing in Gaza amid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe

World leaders must reject the path of chaos

Juan Manuel Santos

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

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

Elders Statements

Failure to respect rule of law risks collapse of global stability

The Elders today express their alarm at the escalating crises facing the world and urge leaders to uphold the rule of law

The Elders call for strong international leadership on AI governance after Summit of the Future

21 October 2024

The Elders call for continued leadership from the UN and member states to drive forward inclusive global governance of AI

Elders Statements

The Pope elevates the climate debate in his encyclical

Lesley-Anne Knight, CEO of the Elders, considers the Pope’s encyclical on climate and hopes its message will serve to galvanise governments to take bold steps in the lead up to the pivotal climate meeting in Paris later in the year.

The Elders' Debate on BBC Global – the highlights

Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter, Hina Jilani and Mary Robinson took part in a live broadcast debate on BBC World to discuss some of the world's biggest issues, from Syria and Ukraine to migration and extremism.

Watch the #EldersDebate

India and climate change: our record, role and responsibility

Hearing the Russian perspective

Six Elders were in Moscow in late April to meet President Vladimir Putin and Russian officials to hear their approach to a variety of current geopolitical crises, in particular the situation in Ukraine.

In pursuit of peace: The Elders’ visit to Israel and Palestine

Jimmy Carter and Gro Harlem Brundtland spent three days discussing the post-war political landscape with a host of experts, politicians and NGOs.

Without Gaza the two-state solution cannot be realised

Ukraine, Syria and UN reform

While in Moscow last month on an Elders' visit, Kofi Annan shared with Kommersant’s Elena Chernenko his impressions of the meeting with President Putin, The Elders’ advice on achieving a settlement in Ukraine and the consequences of failing to reform

Returning a normal life to Gazans

At the press conference concluding The Elders' trip to Israel and Palestine, Gro Harlem Brundtland delivers a statement urging a complete paradigm shift on Gaza and explains how the two-state solution would benefit both countries.

Elders Statements

Peace and justice in Israel and Palestine: the need for a two-state solution

“Eight months after a devastating war, not one destroyed house has been rebuilt.”
Gro Harlem Brundtland and Jimmy Carter say the people of Gaza deserve peace and dignity.

Annual report 2014: Supporting courage where there is fear

Our CEO Lesley-Anne Knight reflects on the past 12 months of Elders' work and looks ahead to the organisation's next challenges.

Kofi Annan: "We cannot be prosperous at the expense of the other"

In an interview with RT's Worlds Apart, Kofi Annan discusses peace-building and accountability, from UN Security Council reform to Syria and Ukraine.

Elders Statements

The Elders conclude three-day visit to Moscow

From Ukraine to Syria and Iran, The Elders held talks on geopolitical issues with Russian officials, including President Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

Media advisory: The Elders visit Israel & Palestine from 29 April - 2 May 2015

Jimmy Carter and Gro Harlem Brundtland return to the Middle East this week, meeting with senior Palestinian and Israeli officials, civil society and NGOs to support the two-state solution and highlight Gaza's humanitarian crisis.

Why The Elders are returning to Israel and Palestine

Jimmy Carter and Gro Harlem Brundtland will revisit the Middle East in a renewed push to promote the two-state solution and to address the root causes of the conflict.

Media advisory: The Elders to visit Russia from 27-29 April 2015

On the first Elders' visit to Russia, six Elders are in Moscow this week to meet Russian officials about key foreign policy issues.

UN Reform: selecting the next Secretary-General

How should our next UN Secretary-General be chosen?On 24 April, The Elders and the International Peace Institute teamed up to debate how we can make the Secretary-General process fair and transparent.

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.

Climate justice: why is it relevant in 2015?

This Earth Day, Mary Robinson calls for the reinvention of 'business as usual' into a sustainable, green and people-centred approach, or risk endangering the planet for future generations.

'The least we can do for Syria'

Writing in Project Syndicate, Lakhdar Brahimi highlights the horrors of the Syria crisis, including the recent thousands of migrants who lost their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, and calls on the public as well as politicians to turn apa

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.

Elders Statements

The Elders welcome Iran nuclear agreement and urge greater cooperation across Middle East

The Elders call for swift implementation of the deal reached on Iran's nuclear programme and praise the opportunity to stabilise the region.

Israel and Palestine: the path to peace

In the wake of Israel’s re-election of Benyamin Netanyahu in March, the Elders call for all players regional and international to re-examine the two-state solution and to redouble efforts to find a path to peace for Israel and Palestine.

'Rebuild Gaza, and avert the next war'

Writing in The Washington Post, Jimmy Carter argues that an end to Gaza's isolation is essential for a future Israel-Palestine peace deal.

2015: A tough year for democracy and human rights

Looking ahead to the opportunities of 2015, Gro Harlem Brundtland argues that democracy and human rights are inextricably linked with a global response to climate change and gender inequality.

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

Elders Statements

The Elders urge commitment and patience to secure an effective Iranian nuclear agreement

As leaders meet to broker a deal on Iran's nuclear programme, The Elders call on all political actors to give the negotiators the time and space to come to an agreement.

Planning for disaster: solutions to the human cost of climate change

What can we do to change the gender equation?

On 6 March, to mark International Women’s Day, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu hosted a Twitter Q&A on gender inequality and women’s rights. You can see the twitter conversation at #askElders. Here is the full transcript of the event.

What can we do to change the gender equation?

On 6 March, to mark International Women’s Day, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu hosted a Twitter Q&A on gender inequality and women’s rights. You can see the twitter conversation at #askElders. Here is the full transcript of the event.

What can we do to change the gender equation?

On 6 March, to mark International Women’s Day, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu hosted a Twitter Q&A on gender inequality and women’s rights. You can see the twitter conversation at #askElders. Here is the full transcript of the event.

Elders Statements

The Elders warn against political violence in Burundi and urge free, transparent elections

In the lead up to Burundi's elections, The Elders urge leaders and the general public to abide by The Arusha Accords to "entrench democracy and bolster peace and stability".

A temporary order: discrimination in East Jerusalem

Legal and human rights experts Shelly Cohen and Noa Diamond describe how Palestinians in East Jerusalem have lived for over a decade under a 'temporary', "discriminatory and racist law."

"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.

International Women's Day – time to start making a difference

In a crucial year for women’s rights, we can all do our bit to bring gender equality closer to reality.

Kofi Annan: PM Netanyahu trying to 'sabotage' Iran talks

Kofi Annan offers his opinion on the US-led Iran nuclear deal in the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to US Congress on 4 March, in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

What Palestinians need to do to fulfil their quest for statehood

Former Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Salam Fayyad argues that the path to peace can only begin when Gaza is reintroduced into the Palestinian fold.

We need to think differently about women

"We cannot sit and pontificate, or wring our hands and hope someone else does the hard work."
To mark International Women's Day, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu urge all of us, men and women, to question what is preventing gender equality and to make a co

Empowering women: we are all change-makers

Using their experience – from overcoming backlash to engaging male advocates – Gro Harlem Brundtland and Hina Jilani recommend how to empower women.

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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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