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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

BRICS call for immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access in Syria

After Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa conclude their two-day summit with a strong statement on the urgent need for humanitarian access in Syria, The Elders welcome their call, urging the five leaders to work with all parties to facilitate th

Post-2015: “Nothing about us, without us”

"There is no sustainable future without the participation of our generation."Nigerian activist Esther Agbarakwe calls on governments to involve young people in debating the new global development goals agenda.

We are all shamed by Syria’s suffering

"Weapons, not blankets, are pouring into the country"As Syria's humanitarian crisis escalates, Desmond Tutu makes an impassioned call to the international community to put the safety of Syrians above politics.

"No fuel, no electricity, no food": crisis in Syria

A oportunidade para a ação de pacificar a Síria

"A cúpula dos BRICS é uma oportunidade para as potências mundiais emergentes demonstrarem seu compromisso e solidariedade com o povo da Síria em seu momento de maior necessidade."
Escrevendo no jornal O Estado de São Paulo, Martti Ahtisaari e Fernan

UN Human Rights Council: There must be accountability for victims of Sri Lanka's civil war

Today’s vote by the Human Rights Council highlights the lack of progress towards addressing Sri Lanka's culture of impunity. The resolution calls on the government to conduct an independent and credible investigation into human rights violations committ

A message to Obama

"Only you, Mr President, can turn things around in the dying Israeli-Palestinian peace process… You are our only – and probably last – hope.”
As the US President arrives in the Middle East for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, forme

Mary Robinson appointed as UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region of Africa

"Mary faces the formidable challenge of helping to bring about peace in a region torn apart by decades of strife." Desmond TutuThe Elders welcome Mary Robinson's new appointment and stand ready to support her in her mission.

How can policy-makers help protect women and girls from violence?

“People can change their attitudes. We have to help them do it.”
Speaking at an inquiry of the UK International Development Committee, Gro Harlem Brundtland discusses what parliamentarians and policy-makers can do to ensure development programming ta

Le Conseil des droits de l'homme doit serrer la vis au Sri Lanka

"Nous soutenons la mise en place d’une enquête internationale crédible et indépendante sur les violations présumées des droits de l’homme au Sri Lanka"
Quatre ans après la fin de la guerre civile au Sri Lanka, le climat est loin d'être propice

Defeating discrimination: how to end violence against women

“Violence against women is rooted in deeply ingrained social norms that portray women as less than men.”Writing on International Women’s Day for Skoll World Forum, Gro Harlem Brundtland argues that to end the violence affecting millions of women w

Children of war, women of peace

“During the decades of civil war, women were never formally invited into the peace talks – but we showed up anyway.”On International Women’s Day, Hon. Philister Baya Lawiri, Chair of South Sudan’s Civil Service Commission, highlights the missi

US legislates to prevent child marriage worldwide

In a development welcomed by child marriage activists, the United States Congress has passed a bill stating that child marriage breaches fundamental human rights – and requiring the US to integrate the prevention of this harmful practice across its deve

Deepening democracy: why elections with integrity matter

“When citizens go to the polls and cast their votes, they aspire not only to elect their leaders, but to choose a direction for their nation.”Kofi Annan warns that while elections with integrity can bolster democracy, flawed elections can undermine

Elders welcome new South Korean President

The Elders congratulate the new South Korean President Park Geun-hye on taking office and express their support for her commitment to constructive engagement with North Korea.

Women, work and peace

“Poverty is day-to-day violence, no less destructive than war.”
Receiving the 2011 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, Ela Bhatt re-examines our idea of peace, arguing that equity, local economies and the empowerment of women

African women driving change

“The 21st century is Africa’s century”
From the women peace-builders telling senior African Union officials “enough is enough” to the activists demanding justice for victims of sexual violence: Mary Robinson blogs about the inspiring women she

2030: a world free of child marriage

“It is ambitious to say that we can end child marriage by 2030, but I am convinced it is possible.”
Writing for Impatient Optimists, Gro Harlem Brundtland argues that including an end to child marriage in the UN’s new development goals would do muc

A peace agenda for global development

"No conflict-affected low-income country has achieved a single Millennium Development Goal."
Graça Machel, a member of the High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, calls for a new development framework that can break the cycle of conflict a

“We need more women leaders.” Mary Robinson calls for a greater role for women in peace building

Mary Robinson has been in Addis Ababa for the binannual meeting of the Gender is My Agenda Campaign, to meet Sudanese and South Sudanese women leaders, and stress the importance of involving women in the peace process between the two nations.

To end child marriage we need to speak louder, with one voice

“To be successful in eradicating child marriage by 2030, there is no village, no township, no corner of this great continent that should not hear the message that child marriage can end.”
Following a meeting with Girls Not Brides member organisations

مصر: الحكماء يدعون إلى الهدوء قبل جولة الاستفتاء الثانية

ديزموند توتو: "نحث أولئك الذين لجؤوا إلى العنف من أجل غايات سياسية على التوقف"في حين تستعد مصر للجولة الثانية من الاستفتاء على الدستور وسط ت

هل ستخون الثورة نساء مصر؟

Protecting fundamental freedoms, online and offline

"The more we grow accustomed to voicing our opinions online, the more we resist being silenced."In a blog for Skoll World Forum on Human Rights Day 2012, Mary Robinson argues that we must protect the internet as a space where fundamental freedoms prevai

Lesley-Anne Knight appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Elders

The Elders warmly welcome the appointment of Lesley-Anne Knight, who will succeed Mabel van Oranje as Chief Executive Officer from January 2013. 

African campaigners come together to tackle child marriage

“We ought to do everything in our power to ensure girls can become all they can be.” Desmond Tutu
In November, Desmond Tutu and Graça Machel took part in a Girls Not Brides conference discussing how to end child marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa. The e

L’Europe peut encore restaurer sa crédibilité au Proche Orient

Les Elders appellent l’Union européenne à faire pression sur Israël pour mettre fin à l’expansion des colonies en Cisjordanie. Dans une tribune publiée par Libération, ils estiment que l’Europe, en prenant des mesures concernant l’importatio

Sustainable development, democracy, peace: the key role of women

Gro Harlem Brundtland delivers the Nadia Younes Memorial Lecture at the American University in Cairo, 12 March 2012.

الحكماء يرحبون باعتراف الأمم المتحدة بفلسطين كدولة مراقبة

Is there a secret to promoting sustainable development?

"The promotion of sustainable development is perhaps the clearest contemporary manifestation of the human quest for freedom and dignity. And it all comes down to hard work and dedication."After joining the Elders+Youngers intergenerational dialogue this

Two-state solution on the line

"The peace process established in Oslo has not just stalled; it is going backwards fast."A vote for the Palestinian statehood resolution at the UN General Assembly will help safeguard the two-state solution, write Gro Harlem Brundtland and Jimmy Carter

Let us measure up as men

“I call on men and boys everywhere to take a stand against the mistreatment of girls and women. It is by standing up for the rights of girls and women that we truly measure up as men.”To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Aga

'Desmond Tutu: not going quietly'

In a video interview with David Frost for Al Jazeera, Desmond Tutu offers his personal insight into the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and his concerns for the recent developments taking place in the country. Later, joined by Jimmy Carter, they d

The Elders call for immediate halt to Gaza violence

“This new outbreak of violence is heartbreaking – and all too familiar." Desmond Tutu
As violence escalates in Gaza and Israel, the Elders call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and for the international community to renew efforts to resolve

مصر بمرحلة انتقالية: الحكماء يزورون القاهرة

في الجزء الثاني من زيارتهم للشرق الأوسط في أكتوبر 2012، سافر الحكماء إلى القاهرة والتقوا بالرئيس محمد مرسي وزعماء دينين وممثلي مجتمع مدني وشب

على حافة الانهيار: حل الدولتين

"התקווה לפתרון שתי מדינות דועכת והולכת" - ה-Elders במזרח התיכון

'Respect the Elders'

“I do this because I feel I have a responsibility to use the experience I have. All conflicts can be solved.” Martti AhtisaariFrom behind-the-scenes advocacy to occasional "blasts of indignation", Sophie Grove, writing for Monocle, examines what mak

Elders to Egyptian youth: "You are the future"

“It took us 12 years to write a constitution. Don't underestimate what you have done.” Jimmy CarterLast week, to conclude their two-day visit to Cairo, the Elders took part in a televised discussion with young Egyptians on the momentous events that

'Elders seek solutions to world’s worst problems'

“We don't give up. We are determined. In this interconnected world, problems in one country – if we don't address them and support them – will spill over into other countries.”
On NPR’s Talk of The Nation, Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson joined

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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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