Mary Robinson, Graça Machel and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf traveled to Kigali, Rwanda to attend the Women Deliver 2023 Conference.
There, they explored the unequivocal need for women's leadership, both in addressing the existential threats facing humanity and in ultimately creating a fairer world. They also visited a health centre to learn how a local community was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mary Robinson, Graça Machel and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf together at Women Deliver, July 2023.
Mary Robinson was part of a panel discussion alongside Ugandan climate justice activist Vanessa Nakate and human rights activist Hafsat Abiola. Together, they spoke about the need to unite women across sectors and borders to take climate action.
Mary Robinson also introduced a new initiative, Project Dandelion. The Elders join other organisations in calling for collective action on the climate crisis.
"People are not only losing their livelihoods, they are losing their lives… If we don’t address the climate crisis we will never address the problems facing women and girls.” - Vanessa Nakate speaking during the panel discussion.
Graça Machel delivered a keynote speech with a rallying call for women's leadership on the existential threats facing humanity. Following her speech, Mary Robinson and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf further explored the vital need for women's leadership during a panel discussion with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Helen Clark.
"Failing to involve women in decision-making on our greatest challenges, not only undermines women’s rights to participate in shaping our common future, but it particularly damages any chance we have of successfully eradicating global threats." - Graça Machel.
Graça Machel greeting Mary Robinson on stage ahead of the 'Chai and Politics' panel discussion.
Photo: Thierry Ahimana/Small Steps Everyday
“We are not going to stop until women have the equity they deserve, they have earned, that they have worked for!” - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Photo: Thierry Ahimana/Small Steps Everyday
Mary Robinson spoke at an 'Advancing Feminist Climate Justice Through the Rule of Law' event, hosted by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) in partnership with the Generation Equality 'Feminist Action for Climate Justice' Coalition.
"We need every person, every set of skills, every insight, and every lived experience at our fingertips so enough action can be taken to avert the worst impacts of climate change." - Mary Robinson during her speech at the 'Advancing Feminist Climate Justice Through the Rule of Law' event.
At a press conference, Mary Robinson gave a firm call for decisive climate action: “We don’t need to phase down coal, oil and gas. We need to phase out coal, oil and gas. We need to stop spending money on what is harming us.”
During their visit to Kigali, Mary Robinson, Graça Machel and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf visited a health centre to learn how a local community was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three Elders at a health centre in Rwanda to learn more about the impact of COVID-19, and to explore the action needed to ensure communities are better prepared for the next pandemic.
Feature image: The Elders on stage at Women Deliver 2023. Photo: Thierry Ahimana/Small Steps Everyday
