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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

Introducing: Marvin

Meet the Youngers: Sara

“When I was five years old, I discovered that something is seriously wrong with the way people treat our planet.”
Sara from Sweden is one of four young environmental activists taking part in the Elders+Youngers debate leading up to the Rio+20 summit.

Meet the Youngers: Pedro

“When people ask me what I do for a living I like to present myself as a socio-environmentalist.”
Pedro shares his experience working towards overcoming the social, economic, environmental and political issues facing Brazil and the wider world. As Ri

Meet the Youngers: Marvin

“I believe in the power of each individual no matter how cruel the political and economical system may be.”
As he joins the Elders+Youngers debate ahead of the Rio+20 summit in June, climate change activist Marvin talks about his experience of promot

Meet the Youngers: Esther

“We believe that when young people know the urgency of the climate crisis they will act.”Esther is one of the four Youngers taking part in the Elders+Youngers debate ahead of the Rio+20 summit. She describes how health and education issues in Nigeri

Elders Statements

The Elders congratulate Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of her appearance in parliament in Burma/Myanmar

“We pray that Aung San Suu Kyi and her country are now on a path to freedom” – Desmond Tutu
After pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was elected to parliament in Burma/Myanmar, The Elders welcome the positive reforms taking place and announce th

A moral leader: India’s chance to spearhead efforts to end child marriage worldwide

“Indian communities and their leaders are starting to realise how much potential lies in the empowerment of their sisters, mothers, wives and daughters.”
Despite India's rapid economic growth, it remains home to one third of the world's poorest peopl

التنمية المستدامة والديمقراطية والسلام: دور المرأة الرئيسي

"هل قدم الرجال للسلام أكثر مما قدمته النساء؟ لا أعتقد ذلك".جرو هارلم برندتلاند يلقي محاضرة نادية يونس التذكارية في الجامعة الأمريكية في الق

North Korea: new leader, new opportunities

“The year 2012 might be a great opportunity for the West to dramatically improve relations with North Korea. We should give Kim Jong Un a chance. What do we have to lose?”
Rudiger Frank, Professor of East Asian Economy and Society at the University o

التنمية المستدامة والديمقراطية والسلام: دور المرأة الرئيسي

جرو هارلم برندتلاند يلقي محاضرة نادية يونس التذكارية في الجامعة الأمريكية في القاهرة – 12 مارس 2012

Promoting women’s rights worldwide

Equality for girls and women has been a core focus of The Elders’ work ever since the organisation was founded. To mark International Women’s Day 2012, we revisit some of their work with women in Sudan, the Middle East, Cyprus, Côte d’Ivoire and No

Elders Statements

The Elders welcome US-North Korea agreement on nuclear moratorium and food aid to North Korean people

The Elders welcome the news that North Korea has agreed to suspend its nuclear activities. They also commend the United States on its decision to send much-needed food aid to the North Korean population, and express hope that dialogue and trust-building b

Elders Statements

منظمة الحكماء تدعو إلى وقف فوري للعنف في سوريا

Elders Statements

Kofi Annan temporarily withdraws from The Elders following his appointment as Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis

In respect of the requirement that Elders are free to speak and act independently, and to allow him to devote his full energies to his critical new assignment, Kofi Annan has decided to recuse himself as a member of The Elders.

Our duty to Sri Lanka, and human rights

Writing in The Guardian as the UN Human Rights Council session opens in Geneva, Archbishop Tutu and Mary Robinson say it is not just Sri Lanka's people that the Council must serve this week, but the cause of international law.

Together we can end child marriage: building momentum in South Asia

"We can end child marriage, because together we can achieve anything." Youth campaigner Nitu, IndiaIn this new video from Girls Not Brides, campaigners from across South Asia – home to nearly half of the world's child brides – explain what motivates

Unlocking India’s potential: youth lead campaign to stop child marriage

“They want to be part of their country’s tremendous growth and opportunity; they want the chance to grow up before becoming parents themselves.”
After returning from India, Gro Brundtland blogs about the Elders' visit to an innovative youth-led pro

Catalysing action to end child marriage – on the road with The Elders in India

“It may be hard to measure their direct impact on the global task of ending child marriage, but this visit, for me at least, has me convinced that The Elders are creating a real tipping point.”
Pam Omidyar, founder of Humanity United and member of Th

“My life, my decision: stop child marriage”

In February 2012 four Elders travelled to Bihar, India, to meet a group of young people campaigning to stop child marriage. After listening to the teenage girls and boys, Desmond Tutu, Ela Bhatt, Gro Brundtland and Mary Robinson raised the issue with Biha

Elders Statements

The Elders: Momentum is building to tackle child marriage in India

At the conclusion of a four-day visit, members of The Elders feel that momentum is building to tackle child marriage in India. During their visit the Elders met with political and business leaders, UN and NGO representatives as well as communities affecte

Elders Statements

Eminent Indian leaders champion efforts to end child marriage in India

At a meeting in New Delhi co-hosted by The Elders and the Population Foundation of India, a group of Indian leaders from government, law, business, the arts and civil society have agreed to become 'champions for an end to child marriage'.

Elders Statements

The Elders support efforts to address high child marriage rates in Bihar, India

“We believe that by listening to young people addressing child marriage and supporting their communities, we can make a huge difference in one generation” – Mary Robinson.
Desmond Tutu, Ela Bhatt, Gro Brundtland and Mary Robinson visit a youth-led

Welcoming my fellow Elders to India

“We hope to listen to girls affected by child marriage, their parents, their teachers and community leaders – and amplify their needs and concerns in our conversations with government, media and other influential people.”Ela Bhatt is joined in India

Elders Statements

The Elders to visit India with focus on girls’ development and the impact of child marriage

Press Conference in New Delhi, 9 February 2012
Desmond Tutu, Ela Bhatt, Gro Brundtland and Mary Robinson will visit India, home to an estimated one third of the world's child brides. They plan to meet political and business leaders, UN and NGO representa

Women, religion and change

“This shouldn’t be such a difficult topic for people of faith. It seems entirely consistent with the teachings of the world’s great religions that men and women are equal in the eyes of God.”After a meeting with fellow religious leaders at the Wor

Elders Alert: Achieving Sustainable Development for All – The Road to Rio

As the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability releases its report, The Elders urge political, business and civil society leaders around the world to take bold actions to build a more equitable and sustainable world for us all.

Elders Statements

Bold action is needed to make sustainable development a reality

Today’s leaders must make binding decisions for the long termLooking ahead to Rio +20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development taking place in Brazil this June, the Elders say that 'business as usual' is no longer acceptable and urge world leader

Interview: UN former official Mary Robinson looks at Egypt 'between optimism and deep concern'

In an interview with the Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram, Mary Robinson says that the ruling military authorities need to transfer power as soon as possible and that the next constitution of Egypt needs to be representative of all segments of the Egyptian soc

Women must be at the heart of the new Egypt

As Egyptians celebrate the first anniversary of the uprising that removed Hosni Mubarak from power, Mary Robinson argues that it is time to challenge the patriarchal norms that continue to restrict women's political participation – and that Egypt's futu

'The Elders' take a stand against child marriage

Why did The Elders, “more accustomed to sitting down with government officials in North and South Korea, antagonists in the Middle East or peacemakers in Africa,” decide to launch a global campaign to protect the basic rights of girls and women?Writin

Time to close the gap

"We can no longer ignore this growing distance between rich and poor. It is time to close the gap. It is time to talk about making real changes so that the world becomes a more equitable place."Ahead of his appearance in the opening session of the World E

"Women as the way forward": Davos 2012

WATCH LIVE: Desmond Tutu joins a panel discussion focusing on women's leadership - the first of its kind at the World Economic Forum. Moderated by New York Times columnist Nick Kristof, best known for his book Half The Sky, with panelists including Sheryl

Elders Statements

الحكماء يهنئون الشعب المصري على إجراء انتخاباتٍ سلميةٍ

Kofi Annan note des progrès en Côte d’Ivoire mais souligne les défis auxquels le pays doit faire face

Le processus de réconciliation doit être ouvert et n’exclure personneKofi Annan note des progrès en Côte d’Ivoire mais souligne les défis auxquels le pays doit faire face

Climate change: Durban deal is a step forward

"The fact that the Durban Platform deal has a target of 2015 is, at last, recognition of the urgency of the issue facing us."Mary Robinson expresses her relief at the outcome of the Durban Climate Change Conference, and calls for ambition to move the wo

קידום חלופות לא-אלימות

Jimmy Carter: 'We never dropped a bomb. We never fired a bullet. We never went to war'

In an interview with Carole Cadwalladr published in the Observer, Jimmy Carter discusses his liberal upbringing in Plains, Georgia, his journey to the White House, his work with the Carter Center and The Elders

Inside the Elders’ meeting in Rio

שתי ירושלים

We are stronger together: the transformative power of human connection

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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
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