News & Insight | The Elders

World Refugee Day 2022: Solidarity must mean action

Ban Ki-moon Zeid Raad Al Hussein Hina Jilani

To mark World Refugee Day 2022, The Elders call for inclusion and solidarity for all refugees, no matter where they are from.

Climate justice is key to addressing the climate crisis

Mary Robinson discusses the importance of climate justice as an indispensable concept, framework and guide for addressing the climate crisis.

Mandela brought the Elders together 15 years ago. They are needed now, more than ever.

Graça Machel reflects on The Elders' May board meeting in South Africa, the climate crisis and Ukraine.

Young Justice Leaders: an intergenerational call for justice for all

Mary Robinson joined the Young Justice Leaders at the World Justice Forum to discuss commitments towards justice for all.

We must work together to make justice for all a reality

At the World Justice Forum, Mary Robinson reiterates the need for inclusive, intergenerational, people-centered justice systems.

Elders Statement

Війна в Україні не повинна розгортатися: настав час говорити про мир

Война в Украине не должна обостряться: пришло время говорить о мире

Elders Statement

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.

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.

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.

The world remains dangerously off track on climate, The Elders warn ahead of critical UN assessment

The Elders have voiced grave concern about the lack of ambition from many world leaders, as the UN reports back on carbon commitments ahead of the crucial COP26 climate summit in Glasgow this November.

Fronteras cerradas e injusticia en la vacunación: COVID-19 y la migración en América Latina

Mauricio Viloria y Diana Ortiz Viloria, de MECoPA, hablan sobre la necesidad de reconocer el camino en el que las restricciones impuestas a la migración forzada aumentan los riesgos en la salud pública.

Closed borders and vaccine injustice: COVID-19 and migration in Latin America

Mauricio Viloria and Diana Ortiz Viloria of MECoPa write about the need to recognise the ways in which restrictions on forced migration amplify risks to public health.

From conflict to climate change: collective efforts are needed to overcome shared challenges

COVID-19 affected every aspect of our lives in 2020, and how we respond to it as a global community has important implications for our approach to other shared, existential threats including climate change and nuclear weapons.

The Elders call on President Biden to reverse the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism

The Elders today called on President Biden to take immediate steps to reverse the decision, taken by the former Trump Administration on 11 January, to redesignate Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The Elders condemn military coup d’état in Myanmar

The Elders today condemned the coup d’état by the military in Myanmar and called on the international community to exert pressure for an immediate return to civilian rule.

COVID-19 shows that we cannot take stability and competent governance for granted

With the Doomsday Clock remaining at just 100 seconds to midnight, Gro Harlem Brundtland warns of an alarmingly high level of existential risk to humanity. Published in Project Syndicate.

Finding Humanity Podcast: critical conversations with The Elders

The Finding Humanity podcast explores the need for empathetic and principled leadership on some of the biggest challenges humanity is grappling with today.

The Elders welcome US-Russian agreement to extend New START nuclear treaty

The Elders today welcomed the agreement by US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) for five years.

The hands of the Doomsday Clock remain still: the existential challenges we face do not

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf warns that while the 2021 Doomsday Clock hands remain at 100 seconds to midnight, the existential threats we face demand urgent action.

The Elders explore hope, leadership and the COVID-19 recovery in a new series of the Finding Humanity podcast

As the new US President Joe Biden calls for unity in tackling the cascading crises of our era, The Elders embark on a new podcast series looking at the leadership needed to meet the challenges ahead.

The Elders welcome US re-engagement on climate, WHO; call for renewed commitment on nuclear threat

The Elders today welcomed the decisions by newly-inaugurated US President Joe Biden to rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change and cease the process of withdrawal from the World Health Organization.

A global fossil fuel registry is key to governments taking urgent climate action

Ricardo Lagos calls for greater transparency and accountability from governments to deliver a coordinated, international approach to reducing fossil fuel production. Published in El Pais.

The Elders warn Yemen famine will be worsened by US designation of Houthis as terrorists

The Elders today expressed concern that the severe famine and humanitarian crisis in Yemen will be worsened by the US Government’s designation of one of the parties in the conflict as terrorists.

No time to spare for the Paris climate promise

Five years on from the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change, Mary Robinson warns that having squandered past opportunities and shirked previous commitments, states now must start making up for lost time.

Lakhdar Brahimi: “A return to the world order before Donald Trump is neither possible nor desirable”

While the crisis of multilateralism has been accelerated by the Trump administration, it has its roots in the attitude of the United States, which has imposed its supremacy since the fall of the Berlin Wall, flouting international law.

2021 must be a year of enlightened and empathetic action

Mary Robinson calls for solidarity, inclusion and generosity of spirit, as we seek to overcome our common challenges in 2021.

The Elders and The Carter Center Joint Convening with Diaspora Palestinians

On November 19, 2020, The Carter Center and The Elders jointly hosted an online consultation with “Diaspora” Palestinian civil society leaders, analysts, and human rights workers based in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.

2020: a year in review

2020 was a year like no other as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on people’s lives across the world. During this time, The Elders continued to deliver on Nelson Mandela’s mandate to “support courage where there is fear” and “inspire hope where there is despair”

Stories from the frontlines: Refugee-Led Organisations in the Shadow of COVID-19

Three refugee-led organisations share their reflections on a challenging year for people who have been forcibly displaced.

The Elders discuss the role forgiveness plays in justice and conflict resolution

The Elders took part in the launch of the Forgiveness Forum, hosted by the Templeton World Charity Foundation.

Building Back Better for Universal Health

The Elders have launched a new report calling on leaders to make the achievement of Universal Health Coverage a top priority in their government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Prepare, Prioritise, Promote”: The Elders’ three pillars for public health after COVID-19

The Elders today launched a new report, “Building Back Better for Universal Health”, setting out three key pillars to inform the leadership needed from governments and policymakers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic at a national and global level.

The climate crisis is not a distant threat. It is already here.

Speaking ahead of the Climate Ambition Summit, Graça Machel calls for bold and urgent climate action.

Putting GBV survivors at the centre of data collection efforts

Nadine Tunasi from Survivors Speak Out highlights the importance of a survivor-centred approach to data collection within and beyond conflict zones

From Paris to 2030: a call for climate leadership

The Elders join leading experts on climate action and sustainability to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement at a virtual event hosted together with Project Syndicate and the European Investment Bank.

Grassroots organisations are essential to empowering the communities they serve

Frontline justice defenders Nazdeek explain why work like theirs must be urgently and flexibly funded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Elders reflect on the responsibility of men to end gender-based violence

The Elders call for male leaders worldwide to champion gender equality and take urgent action to combat violence against women

Let us unite across generations to protect our planet

Mary Robinson challenges leaders to engage with young climate activists to build a more inclusive and sustainable future.

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