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Speeches and Discussions

The current failure of leadership is not gender neutral

16 October 2024

Mary Robinson delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address at Geneva Peace Week 2024, calling for greater respect for humanitarian law and gender parity in leadership.

Speeches and Discussions

The UN Security Council must step up to protect children in armed conflict

When we recognise women as climate leaders, we support a safer world for all

To mark International Women's Day 2024, Mary Robinson reflects on her recent visit to the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) in India, and considers the pivotal role of women as leaders in tackling the climate crisis.

The Elders and Future of Life Institute release open letter calling for long-view leadership on existential threats

On 15 February 2024, The Elders and the Future of Life Institute release an open letter calling on world leaders to show long-view leadership on existential threats.

اللغة العربية

Living Mandela's legacy: we must keep rising up until the future is safe and just

In our latest newsletter, Graça Machel considers Nelson Mandela's legacy, the scale of the nuclear threat, and the vital need for women's leadership in addressing today's urgent challenges.

We cannot stop until there is equity for all: Women Deliver 2023 in pictures

We cannot stop until there is equity for all: Women Deliver 2023 in pictures

Every sector must help tackle the climate crisis

Mary Robinson underscored the critical need for legal and justice institutions to deliver climate action at the 2023 Women Deliver Conference.

Speeches and Discussions

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

Ending child marriage helps communities across the developing world

Commenting in The Washington Post, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu describe how empowering girls can be one of the most effective ways to improve the health and prosperity of societies.

Ending child marriage helps communities across the developing world

Commenting in The Washington Post, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu describe how empowering girls can be one of the most effective ways to improve the health and prosperity of societies.

Gaza's blockade silences voices of women

Lakhdar Brahimi and Mary Robinson write for The Huffington Post following the Elders' recent visit to Gaza and the Middle East.

Gaza's blockade silences voices of women

Lakhdar Brahimi and Mary Robinson write for The Huffington Post following the Elders' recent visit to Gaza and the Middle East.

Want peace and security? Empower and protect women

Mary Robinson and Bineta Diop reflect in The Huffington Post on the ten-year anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Noting that women across the world have the potential to become effective agents of change, they

Want peace and security? Empower and protect women

Mary Robinson and Bineta Diop reflect in The Huffington Post on the ten-year anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Noting that women across the world have the potential to become effective agents of change, they

Eliminer le mariage des enfants : notre engagement

Dans cet article dans Jeune Afrique, Jimmy Carter et Fernando Henrique Cardoso soutiennent que il est grand temps de reconnaître que nous ne pouvons améliorer les conditions de vie des filles et des femmes les plus pauvres et les plus marginalisées san

Child marriage: our commitment to ending it

Writing in The Guardian, Jimmy Carter and Fernando H Cardoso observe that child marriage has been a major brake on progress towards six of the eight millennium development goals. They argue that is time to recognise that we cannot improve the lives of the

The women of Zimbabwe making history

Mary Robinson recently made a five-day visit to Zimbabwe with several eminent African women leaders. While there she witnessed an historic agreement by the women of all parties to work together.

The women of Zimbabwe making history

Mary Robinson recently made a five-day visit to Zimbabwe with several eminent African women leaders. While there she witnessed an historic agreement by the women of all parties to work together.

Mary Robinson: 'I feel a terrible sense of urgency'

In an interview with Aide Edemariam from The Guardian, Mary Robinson describes her life and work - as a child growing up in County Mayo, Ireland; as a young senator and later first female President of Ireland; as the UN High Commissioner for Human Ri

Mary Robinson: 'I feel a terrible sense of urgency'

In an interview with Aide Edemariam from The Guardian, Mary Robinson describes her life and work - as a child growing up in County Mayo, Ireland; as a young senator and later first female President of Ireland; as the UN High Commissioner for Human Ri

'Empower them through work'

On the 35th anniversary of International Women's Day, founder of India's 1.2 million-strong SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association) Ela Bhatt reflects in Outlook India on the obstacles that remain to women's equality.

The Elders speak: Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson

Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson answer questions from The Huffington Post's Marianne Schnall.

Religion and women

In his column in The New York Times, Nicholas D. Kristof argues that while religion has often been used to justify discrimination against women, religious institutions can work to become forces for female emancipation.

Religion and women

In his column in The New York Times, Nicholas D. Kristof argues that while religion has often been used to justify discrimination against women, religious institutions can work to become forces for female emancipation.

Religion and women

In his column in The New York Times, Nicholas D. Kristof argues that while religion has often been used to justify discrimination against women, religious institutions can work to become forces for female emancipation.

A legacy for our children?

Writing in the South China Morning Post and the New Straits Times, Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson warn that the world can’t afford any more political procrastination on climate change.

A legacy for our children?

Writing in the South China Morning Post and the New Straits Times, Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson warn that the world can’t afford any more political procrastination on climate change.

Jimmy Carter addresses the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions on women's equality

The Elders enlist their grandchildren’s help on climate change

Ahead of the historic climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, The Elders urge all heads of government to attend the talks in Copenhagen and reach an ambitious, fair, effective and binding agreement to prevent climate catastrophe.

Women: Showing the way in cooperation

Women's voices must be heard for Cyprus to become a more prosperous, secure and equitable society, writes Gro Brundtland.

Women: Showing the way in cooperation

Women's voices must be heard for Cyprus to become a more prosperous, secure and equitable society, writes Gro Brundtland.

Cypriot women can take the lead

Shortly after attending a meeting between the Elders and leading women from politics, civil society, business, journalism and academia, Nadia Karayianni reflects on the vital role of women in fostering peace in Cyprus.

Cypriot women can take the lead

Shortly after attending a meeting between the Elders and leading women from politics, civil society, business, journalism and academia, Nadia Karayianni reflects on the vital role of women in fostering peace in Cyprus.

Calling for a greater role for women in the Cyprus peace process

As part of their September 2009 Cyprus visit, the Elders held meetings in the UN buffer zone in Nicosia – the only place that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can easily meet - with leading women from politics, civil society, business, journalism and

Hope, change & women

Rana Zincir Celal coordinates the Cyprus Chapter of the Greek-Turkish Forum. Following a meeting between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot women and Elders' Lakhdar Brahimi and Gro Brundtland, she writes about the need for women to be more involved in the

Hope, change & women

Rana Zincir Celal coordinates the Cyprus Chapter of the Greek-Turkish Forum. Following a meeting between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot women and Elders' Lakhdar Brahimi and Gro Brundtland, she writes about the need for women to be more involved in the

Poverty will never be removed without the participation of women

Ela Bhatt argues that the work of women must be recognised, recorded and enhanced if poverty is ever to be tackled effectively.

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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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