News & Insight | The Elders

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

22 January 2021

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.

Access to Justice Climate change Conflict countries and regions Ethical leadership & multilateral cooperation Universal Health Coverage

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.

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.

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”

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

The Elders and The Carter Center in dialogue with Palestinian civil society and leaders

The Elders and The Carter Center jointly hosted a virtual consultation with “1948 Palestinian” civil society and thought leaders

Rebuilding Zimbabwe requires dialogue, solidarity, inclusivity, transparency and accountability

Mary Robinson shares a message of solidarity on the occasion of the third National Citizens Convention in Zimbabwe.

What must be done to increase women's presence and agency in peace mediation?

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ban Ki-moon and Graça Machel discuss the importance of leadership in promoting women's meaningul participation in peacebuilding processes at all levels.

Why is women’s equal participation crucial in peace processes?

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Graça Machel and Lakhdar Brahimi reflect on how and why women's involvement in conflict mediation is vital for stable and inclusive peace-building.

Peacebuilding is at the heart of resolving our personal, institutional and societal grievances

In a guest blog for The Elders, Yasmine Ouirhrane discusses her experiences as a peace mediator highlights the obstacles young women face both from the diaspora and in the MENA region

Women in Mediation in the Arab World: Increasing the Chances of Peace

A policy note by The Elders based on a conference held in October 2020, co-hosted with Wilton Park

The COVID-19 recovery must super-charge progress towards the 2030 Agenda

Mary Robinson underscores the importance of youth, peace and climate action in ensuring that the world “builds back better” after COVID-19

The Elders mourn the passing of Kuwait's Emir

The Elders' statement on the passing of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

The Elders and The Carter Center: A Virtual Dialogue with Israeli activists

On 5 August, The Carter Center and The Elders virtually convened a round of dialogue with Israeli civil society and human rights activists. Lakhdar Brahimi participated on behalf of The Elders.

Pandemics and the challenges of sustaining peace

Ban Ki-moon addresses a virtual session of the UN Security Council on the challenges of sustaining peace during COVID-19.

In Colombia, it took courage to make peace. I worry Israel is choosing conflict instead

Warning that Israel's threat of annexation risks creating an apartheid-style regime, Juan Manuel Santos draws on his experience of making peace in Colombia, underscoring the importance of the rule of law and respect for universal human rights.

The Elders and The Carter Center: A Virtual Dialogue with Palestinian activists

On June 17 and 18, The Carter Center and The Elders virtually convened two rounds of dialogue with Palestinian civil society and political and human rights activists.

The Elders urge European leaders to stand firm on Israeli annexation threats

The Elders have called on European leaders to maintain their resolve against Israel’s plans to annex swathes of the West Bank, and to insist that any such moves would have negative political and economic consequences for bilateral relations.

Palestinian perspectives on the future

The Elders’ Head of Programmes, Jane Kinninmont, writes on Palestinian youth perspectives that were highlighted in a recent virtual dialogue, held as a collaboration between The Elders and The Carter Center.

Israel-Palestine: the realities of occupation

Gro Harlem Brundtland joins Nadav Weiman, a former IDF soldier and Deputy Director of Breaking the Silence, to discuss his military service, the realities of occupation and hopes for peace between Israel and Palestine.

Annual Review 2019: Together we can shape a better future for us all

The Elders' 2019 Annual Review is now available to download.

Ban Ki-moon: I support the UN’s call for a global ceasefire to help fight COVID-19

COVID-19 is a grave threat to all humanity, but people living in conflict zones are particularly vulnerable to its ravages.

Time to focus on a larger fight – coronavirus ceasefires

The Elders’ Head of Programmes, Jane Kinninmont, blogs on the impact of COVID-19 on conflicts around the world

The Elders call for new Middle East peace plan to counter Israeli annexation threat

The Elders today called for new engagement from the international community to deliver a just outcome to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and uphold international law.

The Elders warn new US ‘peace’ plan for Middle East is unworkable

The Elders warned today that the new US proposals announced by President Trump cannot provide a workable solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

2019: a year in review

2019 has been a busy year for The Elders and the world. Find out more about our activities.

The Elders call on regional leaders to kickstart South Sudan peace talks

The Elders call upon leaders from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional bloc to urgently convene talks with the leaders of South Sudan to advance peace negotiations after a series of delays and setbacks.

Nuclear weapons are still the greatest threat to world peace. NATO must take action now to protect humanity

The risk of a nuclear war is higher than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Mary Robinson warns leaders meeting at NATO's London Summit in London to seize the opportunity to prevent a new arms race. Published in The Independent.

The Elders condemn US shift on Israeli settlements as attack on international law

The Elders today strongly condemned the policy shift announced by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the legality of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories as injurious to peace and an attack on the broader system and values of international law

The Elders call for open access to Kashmir to assess humanitarian and rights situation

The Elders today expressed grave concern at the recent killings by militants and security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir and urged both India and Pakistan to act with restraint and responsibility to defuse tensions.

The Elders at One Young World

This year the One Young World Summit will welcome The Elders to London to celebrate its 10th anniversary summit.

The Elders urge Colombia to defend peace agreement against FARC dissidents

The Elders today called on Colombian President Iván Duque and all political leaders in the country to take all necessary measures to defend and affirm the country’s historic peace agreement.

The Elders call on Zimbabwe’s leaders to place citizens’ needs over party interests

The Elders call on Zimbabwe’s political leaders and all figures in authority to commit to a truly inclusive national dialogue and prioritise the economic and social needs of ordinary citizens over party politics, factionalism and self-interest.

Dialogue must be routine, not reward, in the fight against conflict

As the new chair of the UN Security Council takes the seat, The Elders’ Head of Programmes, Jane Kinninmont, reflects on the need for states to institutionalise dialogue to avoid conflict.

The Elders' statement on UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia

The Elders welcome today’s ruling that UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen have been unlawful. The UK must now stop supplying arms that can be used in violation of international humanitarian law.

The UNSC must be bold and assert its collective voice

Addressing a UN Security Council session on the maintenance of international peace and security, Ban Ki-moon urges Council Members to cooperate and speak with a strong common voice for UNSC decisions to have a decisive impact.

The UNSC must work together to deliver its mandate

Addressing a UN Security Council session on conflict prevention and mediation, Mary Robinson implores Council Members to work together to deliver on its commitments outlined in the UN Charter.

The Elders discuss multilateralism and conflict prevention at the Council on Foreign Relations

Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf joined Council of Foreign Relations President Richard Haass in New York to discuss the vital role of a well-functioning multilateral system.

Annual Review 2018: Never too young to lead, never too old to learn

The Elders 2018 Annual Review is now available to download. Find out more about our activities, achievements and challenges from the past year.

The Elders call on Egypt’s al-Sisi to uphold AU commitments on Sudan transition

The Elders call on Egypt’s al-Sisi to uphold AU commitments on Sudan transition

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