News & Insight | The Elders

Leaders must tackle root causes of gender-based violence and ensure justice for all

Hina Jilani Ricardo Lagos

25 November 2022

To mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2022, The Elders call on leaders to tackle root causes of gender-based violence to ensure justice for all.

Elders Statements

The Elders welcome historic breakthrough on loss and damage at COP27, but call on G20 leaders to phase out fossil fuels faster

Mary Robinson Ban Ki-moon Graça Machel

20 November 2022

Elders Statement: The agreement reached at COP27 in Egypt shows that solidarity and co-operation between nations on the world’s most pressing issues is possible through negotiation and compromise, even in testing times.

Speeches and Discussions

Remembering Ela Bhatt's life, wisdom and legacy

Mary Robinson Ela Bhatt

On Saturday 19 November Mary Robinson celebrated Ela Bhatt's life and legacy at a memorial service in Ahmedabad.

Speeches and Discussions

A truly 'just' transition must be rooted in human rights and equality

On Saturday 12 November Mary Robinson called for just transitions to be rooted in human rights at a COP27 roundtable discussion exploring the importance of Just Transitions and how to achieve them in practice around the world.

Leaders must listen to civil society on the climate crisis

With a foreword by Graça Machel, Haneen Shaheen calls on world leaders to listen to civil society concerns on the climate crisis.

Elders Statements

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

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.

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.

Elders Statements

حقوق النساء يجب أن تكون في صميم جهود التعافي العالمي

World Refugee Day 2021: a call for leadership

As UNHCR publishes its annual Global Trends report, and ahead of World Refugee Day 2021, Mary Robinson and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf reflect on the need for leadership amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marking Mandela’s legacy with a week of Elders’ discussion

The Elders’ State of Hope seeks to explore Nelson Mandela's vision in the context of contemporary challenges.

Elders Statements

The UN and AU must act now to prevent famine and end atrocities in Tigray, Ethiopia

The Elders today called on the UN Security Council and the African Union to take urgent steps to address the unfolding humanitarian and human rights crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia.

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.

The Elders call on G7 leaders to seize the moment on vaccines and climate action

The Elders call on G7 leaders to take urgent action on vaccine distribution and pledge new climate finance at the G7 summit 11-13 June, or risk further weakening the multilateral system on which future progress and prosperity depends.

Changing the narrative on gender justice

UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake writes for The Elders about gender justice and how to continue to advance access to justice for women and girls amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preventing future pandemics and reforming the UN Security Council

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf reflects on the recent report by the IPPPR and what is needed to ensure its recommendations are meaningfully acted upon by world leaders and international institutions.

Elders Statements

Myanmar risks state failure without significant increase in international pressure, The Elders warn

The Elders call on the international community to intensify pressure on the military leadership in Myanmar to prevent the country descending into endemic violence and state failure.

“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.

Elders Statements

The Elders call on UN Security Council to address root causes of Israeli-Palestinian violence

The Elders today called on the UN Security Council to act urgently to prevent further military attacks in Israel and Palestine and address the root causes of the conflict.

The Elders welcome new report into pandemic preparedness and urge bold action on recommendations

The Elders welcome new recommendations calling for world leaders and the international community to act boldly and with urgency to limit the impacts of COVID-19 and prevent future crises.

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.

COVID-19 offers an opportunity to reform the multilateral system

As COVID-19 has exposed the wide failure of global governance, Ernesto Zedillo calls for the world to seize this opportunity to reform the multilateral system to ensure future accountability and effectiveness.

Elders Statements

The Elders deeply regret the postponement of Palestinian elections

As Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announces the postponement of parliamentary elections, Lakhdar Brahimi and Mary Robinson express concern for reconciliation and democratic rights.

Chancellor Merkel’s last chance to lead on climate

Ahead of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, Ban Ki-moon calls on German Chancellor Angela Merkel to show climate leadership by increasing climate finance to vulnerable countries. Published in Handelsblatt

President Biden's Leaders Summit on Climate: a welcome step but major powers must do more

Mary Robinson welcomes climate commitments made as President Biden convenes world leaders, but calls for increased ambition from major economies ahead of COP26, particularly on climate finance.

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.

Speeches and Discussions

We must listen to the young people on the frontlines of climate change

Mary Robinson calls on world leaders to meaningfully include youth in tackling climate change ahead of COP26, and encourage intergenerational dialogue, as The Elders launch the Intergenerational Climate Blog Series 2021.

Ban Ki-moon calls on UN Security Council to act over Myanmar crisis

Ban Ki-moon calls on the UN Security Council to take decisive steps to address the crisis in Myanmar and support the restoration of constitutional rule, following the coup of 1 February.

Speeches and Discussions

China’s ambition can make a crucial difference on climate

Mary Robinson urges China and its international partners to act together to strengthen climate action, in a keynote address to the 20th Boao Forum for Asia.

Speeches and Discussions

The UN and its regional partners have a ‘fleeting window’ to cooperate on Myanmar

Highlighting the situation in Myanmar, Ban Ki-moon calls on the UN Security Council to work with regional partners to maintain peace and security.

The Elders call on leaders to prioritise access to justice and gender equality

The Elders call on leaders to prioritise access to justice and gender equality and for justice systems that are refocused on the needs of women and girls.

The Elders call for gender-just climate solutions

The Elders call for investment and support for climate vulnerable nations so that millions more women and girls in all their diversity can build resilience to climate and disaster risks, mitigate climate change, and address loss and damage.

The Elders call on leaders to invest in quality data and analysis on women’s justice problems and experiences

The Elders urge decision-makers to prioritise gender-disaggregated data to help understanding of where access to justice for women can be improved.

The Elders call on leaders to address justice for survivors of gender-based violence with renewed vigour

The Elders call for responsive justice services that are tailored to women’s needs and that empower women and inform them about their options at each stage of their justice journey.

The Elders call on leaders to increase funding for legal empowerment and justice services that meet the needs of women

The Elders call on governments, funders, and decision-makers to invest in legal empowerment and justice services for women - in particular those delivered by women’s groups.

The Elders call on leaders to increase the number of women in leadership positions in the justice sector

A lack of intersectional and feminist leadership in the justice sector – and the lack of diverse women’s voices in decision-making at every level – undermines progress to achieving gender equality and access to justice for all.

China, Japan and South Korea must work together to end coal use and funding

Ahead of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021, Ban Ki-moon calls for leadership to create a healthy, resilient and net zero-emissions future across Asia and beyond. Published in South China Morning Post.

Annual Review 2020: Finding Humanity in times of crisis

The Elders' 2020 Annual Review is now available to download. It highlights the challenges to global health, rights and development posed by COVID-19 and how The Elders have adapted to the new realities.

Pandemic preparedness and vaccine equity are key to global health security

During a pandemic, it's in every country's interest to cooperate. Gro Harlem Brundtland reflects on the COVID-19 crisis and how we can mitigate the impact of the current pandemic as well as prevent future health emergencies.

Climate vulnerable nations need more than recycled promises

Graça Machel calls for a concerted international effort to increase climate financing and advance climate justice.

Speeches and Discussions

Justice for women and girls must be at the core of our COVID-19 response

Mary Robinson underscores that crises are never gender-neutral and calls on governments to address the intersecting issues faced by women and girls in their pandemic recovery plans.

UK nuclear announcement ‘shocking and alarming’ warn the Elders

The Elders say UK proposals risk contributing to a dangerous new nuclear arms race

ICC and Israel-Palestine: an investigation is a step towards justice

Mary Robinson underscores the importance of accountability and calls on the international community to support the International Criminal Court's decision to investigate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

A post-COVID-19 world must address systemic inequalities and injustices

Mary Robinson calls for climate action, justice and a sustainable recovery from COVID-19. Published in The Young Geographer: The Climate Justice Edition.

How close are we to realising gender equality?

How do we accelerate the unfinished business of the landmark Beijing Declaration on women’s rights? Mary Robinson and Amani Aruri in conversation.

Women’s leadership must drive the global recovery from COVID-19

Marking International Women's Day 2021, Mary Robinson reflects on why women leadership is crucial in achieving a more equal society post-COVID-19, and why the success of COP26 will depend on it. Published in Inter Press Service.

International actors in peace-building must be guided by humility and respect

It is only through working together in a spirit of solidarity and mutual respect that we can build peace, recover sustainably from the pandemic and tackle the other great existential challenges facing humanity.

Speeches and Discussions

The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis for human rights and development

Mary Robinson addresses the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child and the SDGs, highlighting the importance to uphold rights for the most vulnerable in the global community amid COVID-19.

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