Home
Programmes
Strengthening the United Nations
Access to Justice
Climate change
Conflict countries and regions
Refugees and migration
Universal Health Coverage

Strengthening the United Nations

The Elders believe strongly that the United Nations is a necessary and core part of the global governance system.

Latest Content

News
Multilateralism is key to tackling both global conflicts and the climate crisis
01 Sep 2021
The Elders call for responsible and ethical leadership amid concerns about conflict in Afghanistan and the climate emergency.
News
The climate crisis and COVID-19 defined this year’s UN General Assembly
Zeid Raad Al Hussein
01 Oct 2021
Zeid Raad Al Hussein reiterates the need for global solutions to global problems, and the pivotal role of the multilateral system in addressing our shared challenges such as the climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statement
The Elders call on G7 leaders to seize the moment on vaccines and climate action
07 Jun 2021
The Elders call on G7 leaders to take urgent action on vaccine distribution and pledge new climate finance at the G7 summit 11-13 June, or risk further weakening the multilateral system on which future progress and prosperity depends.
News
The Elders welcome new report into pandemic preparedness and urge bold action on recommendations
13 May 2021
The Elders welcome new recommendations calling for world leaders and the international community to act boldly and with urgency to limit the impacts of COVID-19 and prevent future crises.
More on Strengthening the UN

View

Our Work

The Elders launched a specific initiative on “Strengthening the UN” at the Munich Security Conference in 2015. They proposed four reforms to the UN’s peace and security architecture that would enhance the organisation’s legitimacy and efficacy: a new category of membership for the UN Security Council; a pledge from Permanent Members not to use their veto to prevent action against mass atrocities; a greater voice for civil society; and a more independent Secretary-General.

Following the election of António Guterres as Secretary-General in October 2016, The Elders have focused their efforts on veto restraint. They have raised the issue at meetings with Security Council members in New York and have worked to amplify the voices of civil society and victims of conflict.

The Elders also strongly support the UN’s 2030 Agenda on development and its efforts to introduce new Global Compacts on refugees and migration.

Our call for veto restraint

In May 2016, The Elders joined civil society to call on members of the Security Council to exercise veto restraint to prevent mass atrocities.

Keep up to date with The Elders’ COVID-19 digest:

Sign up to receive regular updates about The Elders’ activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will never share your email address with third parties.

Keep up to date with The Elders latest News and Insight:

Sign up to receive monthly newsletters from The Elders. We will occasionally send you other special updates and news, but we'll never share your email address with third parties.

Close

I would like to find:

Search
Close