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Leaders must uphold scientific integrity over political opportunism
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland discusses how disinformation threatens pandemic preparedness
Opinion
Pandemic Preparedness: A Collective Responsibility for a Safer Future
Helen Clark
The second blog in a collaborative series between the United Nations Youth Office and The Elders, focused on pandemic preparedness
Elders Statements
The Elders urge immediate end to Israel’s attacks on Gaza and resumption of ceasefire
Juan Manuel Santos
20 Mar 2025
The Elders call for an immediate end to Israel’s latest military assault and urge a credible diplomatic peace process.
News
We are recruiting: Operations Manager
10 Mar 2025
Newsletters
It’s time for a woman to serve as UN Secretary-General
Elbegdorj Tsakhia
07 Mar 2025
Elbegdorj Tsakhia reflects on the shifting geopolitical landscape and urges that women’s voices be at the forefront of global decision-making.
Speeches and Discussions
Cooperation isn’t utopian - it works
Helen Clark
05 Mar 2025
At the Tokyo Conference 2025, Helen Clark warned that rising nuclear risks and the breakdown of multilateral cooperation are threatening global security
Juan Manuel Santos urges inclusive peace talks for Ukraine's future
Three years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Juan Manuel Santos urges world leaders to stand firm on justice, accountability and Ukrainian sovereignty.
 Read more
Media Releases
Opinion
Africans must walk to freedom in Mandela’s memory
07 Dec 2013
Opinion
Mandela e a libertação das amarras da revanche
06 Dec 2013
“Não foi ele quem buscou a glória, foi esta que o procurou.”
Publicado em O Globo, Fernando Henrique Cardoso reflete sobre o feito de Nelson Mandela, um líder único e inspirador.
News
Nelson Mandela: uniting humanity around the world
06 Dec 2013
The Elders are deeply saddened by the death of their founder Nelson Mandela, and join millions around the world who were inspired by his courage and touched by his compassion.
Opinion
Nelson Mandela: "the most inspiring individual I have ever met"
05 Dec 2013
"As we mourn the passing of this extraordinary man, and young people around the world feel a particular sense of loss, we can honour him best by giving of ourselves to others."Mary Robinson pays tribute to The Elders' founder, Nelson Mandela.
Elders Statements
The Elders honour the memory of their Founder, Nelson Mandela
05 Dec 2013
“Nelson Mandela stands as an inspiration to us all” – Kofi AnnanThe Elders are deeply saddened by the death of their founder, Nelson Mandela. They join millions of people around the world who were inspired by his courage and touched by his compass
News
Forthright and feminist: Norway's first woman leader
02 Dec 2013
"Next time a woman becomes Party Leader or Prime Minister of Norway, she will not meet the same problems that I had."In an in-depth interview with Mayumi Yoshinari for Japanese political affairs magazine Chuo-Koron, Gro Harlem Brundtland discusses every
News
Vote yes to protect women human rights defenders
26 Nov 2013
“This vote recognises the courageous women who defy patriarchy every day.”
Amid concerns that some UN member states may vote against a resolution to protect women human rights defenders, Gro Harlem Brundtland and Hina Jilani author an open letter urg
Opinion
Women live in a profoundly different, more dangerous world
25 Nov 2013
"The abuse of women and girls is the most pervasive and unaddressed human rights violation on earth."Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Jimmy Carter condemns the widespread discrimination that justifies and perp
Opinion
Climate crisis: who will act?
24 Nov 2013
“If governments are unwilling to lead when leadership is required, people must.”
Writing in The New York Times, Kofi Annan warns that a failure of leadership on climate change would be catastrophic.
Media Releases
The Elders warmly welcome Geneva interim agreement with Iran
24 Nov 2013
“After years of inconclusive negotiations, this is an important step forward in restoring confidence between Iran and the international community.” Kofi AnnanAs the P5+1 and Iran reach an interim deal on Iran's nuclear programme, The Elders welcome
Opinion
Typhoon Haiyan is a warning: we need to change the climate debate
20 Nov 2013
“Climate change is a problem caused by people, with impacts on people, and must be solved by people.”Writing from the UN climate conference in Warsaw, Mary Robinson calls for transformative leadership to recognise climate change as a human rights is
News
Women's rights must not be taken for granted
14 Nov 2013
"Why is it so important to promote and safeguard gender equality? It is a matter of human rights. It is a matter of democracy. Also, it is pure common sense."Marking 100 years of women's right to vote in Norway, former Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtla
News
The Elders debate ethical leadership (part 2)
13 Nov 2013
Media Releases
The Elders warn of threat to Israel-Palestine peace process
11 Nov 2013
"Continued settlement building is deeply unhelpful at this critical moment in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process" – Kofi AnnanThe Elders condemn Israel's latest construction plans for Palestinian East Jerusalem as a threat to the two-state solution
News
Global drugs policy – time for a smarter approach?
08 Nov 2013
“Putting people’s health and safety first is an imperative, not an afterthought.”
New approaches to drugs policy are being adopted by a number of countries around the world. This a chance to move on from the failed and repressive policies of the gl
News
A first step to peace in eastern DRC?
07 Nov 2013
Mary Robinson and fellow international envoys welcome the end of hostilities between the M23 rebel group and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
News
The Elders debate ethical leadership (part 1)
06 Nov 2013
Photos
“Reconciliation is a long-term process, not an event”
01 Nov 2013
Kofi Annan visited Côte d’Ivoire last month to assess the country’s progress since the post-election violence of 2010-11. While welcoming promising signs of economic recovery, he urged Ivorians to work together to build an inclusive future and prepar
Media Releases
The Elders hail progress in Iran nuclear talks
31 Oct 2013
Kofi Annan calls for swift progress and an early resolution of the crisisAhead of the next round of talks on the Iranian nuclear programme, The Elders urge all parties to seize this historic opportunity to move towards a deal.
News
Elders in South Africa for ethical leadership debate
30 Oct 2013
“It’s important that you don’t just speak truth to power, but you also show wisdom to power.” Hina Jilani The Elders, together with Al Jazeera’s South2North programme, held a public debate this week in Cape Town asking, "What is ethical leader
Opinion
Who will lead Syria out of crisis?
30 Oct 2013
“To talk about ‘ethical leadership’ is to speak from experience, not because you were a perfect leader but because you were thrust into difficult situations, and maybe you helped to see humanity prevail.”Writing in the Cape Times, Desmond Tutu r
News
Brazil's accidental president
22 Oct 2013
“Why are young people reacting against political life? Because of the lack of clarity, sincerity, and accountability.”Fernando Henrique Cardoso speaks to Mayumi Yoshinari for Japanese current affairs magazine Chuo-Koron about leadership and democrac
News
Ela Bhatt: 'gentle revolutionary'
17 Oct 2013
"Our generation was all filled with ideas. The only thing that was on the agenda was to rebuild the nation."
Ela Bhatt outlines how she started SEWA, a trade union for self-employed women, and how it has come to offer full financial and social services t
News
Women and poverty: the hidden face of violence with social consent
17 Oct 2013
Photos
Listening to the people transforming Myanmar
11 Oct 2013
During the first Elders delegation to Myanmar in September 2013, Jimmy Carter, Martti Ahtisaari and Gro Harlem Brundtland heard a range of perspectives on the country's political transition, from President Thein Sein to the leaders of the 1988 democracy m
Opinion
In Africa, seeking a licence to kill
10 Oct 2013
Media Releases
Kofi Annan encourages Côte d’Ivoire to step up efforts towards reconciliation
10 Oct 2013
Despite progress, many challenges remain before 2015 electionsKofi Annan concludes a two-day visit to Côte d’Ivoire, stressing that reconciliation and justice are intertwined.
News
Q&A: child marriage and the right to education
10 Oct 2013
"Girls in secondary education are up to six times less likely to marry underage."
On Friday 11 October, people around the world will celebrate Day of the Girl and highlight girls' right to education. Read our Q&A to find out why ending child marriage
News
'Leave no girl behind'
09 Oct 2013
“Child brides have no say in when or whom they marry. They usually drop out of school and miss out on the opportunities they need to thrive.”Ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child, a new video from Girls Not Brides shows how child marriage
News
The only US president who didn’t wage war
08 Oct 2013
“The Vietnam War, I think, was an unnecessary war; the invasion of Iraq was an unnecessary war… We need to be more reluctant to go to war."In a wide-ranging interview with Mayumi Yoshinari for Japanese current affairs magazine Chuo-Koron,
News
Africa’s bright future
07 Oct 2013
Media Releases
Media advisory: Kofi Annan to visit Côte d’Ivoire from 9-10 October 2013
07 Oct 2013
Press conference in Abidjan on Thursday 10 OctoberElders Chair Kofi Annan returns to Côte d’Ivoire to gauge the country’s progress towards reconciliation and the remaining challenges it faces.
Media Releases
The Elders encourage all parties in Myanmar to advance national reforms, support peace accords
26 Sep 2013
"Our question to everyone on this visit has been: what kind of democracy do you envisage?" – Jimmy CarterThe Elders have concluded their first visit to Myanmar. After hearing from leaders and civil society representatives, they express their support f
Opinion
UN owes it to Syria's children to act
25 Sep 2013
"In our failure to ensure that people in Syria are getting the food and basic supplies they need, we condemn children to hunger on top of the horrors of war."
Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Desmond Tutu highlights how Syria's civil war is exposing
Media Releases
Media advisory: The Elders to visit Myanmar on 24-26 September
24 Sep 2013
Press conference in Yangon on Thursday 26 SeptemberJimmy Carter leads the Elders’ first delegation to Myanmar to support the country’s democratic transition and encourage peace and reconciliation.
News
Q&A: The Elders visit Myanmar
24 Sep 2013
This week Jimmy Carter, Martti Ahtisaari and Gro Harlem Brundtland will travel to Myanmar – The Elders' first visit to the country as a group. Find out more about who they plan to meet and what they hope to achieve.
News
The world we want: an end to child marriage
23 Sep 2013
Guest Blogs
"Israel's leadership, back then, understood that occupation cannot and should not persist"
19 Sep 2013
"We thought that recognising Israel would pave the way towards that historical compromise: two states for two nations."
Two decades after the Oslo Accords were signed, Palestinian negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo reflects on his early expectations of the pea
Opinion
Sentencing rapists to death won't tackle the root cause of sexual violence
17 Sep 2013
"Yes, the perpetrators must be held to account for their sins. But it makes very little sense to punish the perpetrators while continuing to ignore the patriarchal, patronising and demeaning societal framework that creates this criminality."Drawing para
News
Let us treat patients in Syria
16 Sep 2013
"We must not let considerations of military intervention destroy our ability to focus on getting them help."
In an open letter published in The Lancet, Gro Harlem Brundtland and 50 other medical professionals highlight the devastating humanitarian and he

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