<h3 class="post-title subpt">Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter, Hina Jilani and Mary Robinson took part in a live broadcast debate on BBC World to discuss some of the world's biggest issues, from Syria and Ukraine to migration and extremism.</h3><div class="quoteblock"><div class="quotetext">&ldquo;You cannot stop migration, you can only manage it effectively.&rdquo;</div></div><p>Earlier this week, four Elders appeared on BBC World’s <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n13xtmvz"><strong>Global with Matthew Amroliwala</strong></a>, a TV show broadcast to over 200 countries.</p>
<p>Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter, Hina Jilani and Mary Robinson fielded questions from social media and from a studio audience of young people from around the world.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What would you ask <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders">@TheElders</a&gt;? We'll ask your questions during <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EldersDebate?src=hash">#EldersDebate</a&gt; on <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCWorld">@BBCWorld</a&gt; TV, June 2, 1500 GMT <a href="http://t.co/LWkIFXszZR">pic.twitter.com/LWkIFXszZR</a></p&gt;
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/604620530298290176">May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p align="center"><img src="/sites/default/files/migrated3/bbc-global-studio_600x367.jpg"/></p>
<p>One member of the audience asked the Elders: who is responsible for acting against the rise of Islamic State?</p>
<p>The resounding answer they gave was that this issue unites everyone. Kofi Annan called for a coalition to bring together the regional powers – Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey – with the United States and members of the UN Security Council.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"We cannot allow <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IS?src=hash">#IS</a&gt; to continue their brutality unchecked. We need a coalition of US and regional powers" <a href="https://twitter.com/KofiAnnan">@KofiAnnan</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EldersDebate?src=hash">#EldersDebate</a></p…;
— The Elders (@TheElders) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders/status/605752622340026368">June 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>While Jimmy Carter said:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jimmy Carter: "IS is a perfect example for the UNSC to act in unity. Russia fears Islamic State as much as anyone else" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EldersDebate?src=hash">#EldersDebate</a></p…;
— Matthew Amroliwala (@AmroliwalaBBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmroliwalaBBC/status/605760368699273216">June 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p align="center"><img src="/sites/default/files/migrated3/kofi-annan-hina-jilani-jimmy-carter-mary-robinson-bbc-global_600x367.jpg"/></p>
<p>Hina Jilani added, when the discussion turned to balancing religion in the region:</p>
<p><em> “It is not about religion, it is about control. The extreme brutality that people are experiencing at the hands of the group is not because of religion.”</em></p>
<p>On the topic of migration, the Elders were pragmatic. Jimmy Carter urged Europe to take greater steps to solve the crisis while Kofi Annan emphasised the inevitability of migration.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Some believe migration can be stopped. You cannot stop migration, you can only manage it effectively. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EldersDebate?src=hash">#EldersDebate</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBC?src=hash">#BBC</a></p&gt;
— Kofi Annan (@KofiAnnan) <a href="https://twitter.com/KofiAnnan/status/605755389959938049">June 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Mary Robinson highlighted the link between migration and refugees from climate change, utlimately stressing:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">'We need to remember that our common humanity. These <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/migrants?src=hash">#migrants</a&gt; are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers' - Mary Robinson <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EldersDebate?src=hash">#EldersDebate</a></p…;
— Michael Boampong (@mickay360) <a href="https://twitter.com/mickay360/status/605760625101250560">June 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Asked about their recent visit to Russia and the outlook for Ukraine, Jimmy Carter stated his belief in President Putin's support for the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11408266/Minsk… II agreement</strong></a>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Implement the Minsk II agreement. This would mean peace between eastern &amp; western parts of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash">#Ukraine</a&gt; -JC <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EldersDebate?src=hash">#EldersDebate</a&gt; <a href="http://t.co/P4YBj5SwZy">pic.twitter.com/P4YBj5SwZy</a></p&gt;
— The Elders (@TheElders) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders/status/605762212913758209">June 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>The debate ended with each Elder being asked what advice they'd give their 18-year-old self. Each Elder answered differently:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I wish I had paid more attention to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/climatechange?src=hash">#climatechange</a&gt; - Hina Jilani on when she was young <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EldersDebate?src=hash">#EldersDebate</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/AmroliwalaBBC">@AmroliwalaBBC</a></p&gt;
— The Elders (@TheElders) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders/status/605763862407692289">June 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Mary Robinson's advice was to "Seek forgiveness, not permission." She added that people should be "pushing the button" – taking actions into their own hands instead of waiting for others.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/KofiAnnan">@KofiAnnan</a>: You are never too young to lead, never too young to do what you believe is right. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EldersDebate?src=hash">#EldersDebate</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBC?src=hash">#BBC</a>""</p&gt;
— Mazala Zulu (@guide2mentor) <a href="https://twitter.com/guide2mentor/status/605765363175944192">June 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Jimmy Carter's advice was to himself when he first became a leader:</p>
<p><em>"Make sure the US becomes the champion of peace and human rights in the world. I don’t think we’ve met that standard but it’s not too late, perhaps." </em></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.theelders.org/article/watch-eldersdebate">Watch the full debate:</a> <br></strong></p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.theelders.org/article/watch-eldersdebate"><strong><img src="/sites/default/files/migrated3/bbc-global-set-screenshot_600x367.jpg"/></strong></a></p>