Watch live: On 26 September Gro Harlem Brundtland, Hina Jilani and Ernesto Zedillo join experts, diplomats and UN officials to debate how to strengthen the UN.

This week, as world leaders convene in New York for the UN General Assembly, Elders are in the city to hold debates on strengthening the UN, 70 years after its founding.

Return to this page on Saturday 26 to watch the two events live.

Selecting the next Secretary-General: opening up the process

26 September 1.15pm EDT / 6.15pm BST:

This high-level meeting co-hosted by The Elders and the Accountability Coherence Transparency Group (ACT) will discuss the need for increased transparency and the participation of the whole UN membership in the selection and appointment process of the UN Secretary-General.

Participants:

Elders Gro Harlem Brundtland and Ernesto Zedillo, Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís, Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN, Kai Sauer, and Estonian Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand.

Watch the debate live at 1.15pm EDT / 6.15pm BST.

Preventing mass atrocities: how can the UN Security Council do better?

26 September 4pm EDT / 9pm BST:

The Elders are partnering with the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect and the International Peace Institute to co-host a high-level panel discussion which will look at ways to improve the Security Council’s ability to prevent and halt the commission of mass atrocity crimes.

Participants:

Elders Gro Harlem Brundtland and Hina Jilani, Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, President and CEO of International Crisis Group and Salil Shetty, Secretary-General of Amnesty International.

The event will be moderated by Simon Adams, Executive Director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect.

Watch the debate live at 4pm EDT / 9pm BST.