Global Leaders Sign Elders’ Open Letter Calling for Bold Action on Existential Threats

Global Leaders Sign Elders’ Open Letter Calling for Bold Action on Existential Threats Feb 15, 2024

Over 100 leading figures, led by members of The Elders and the Future of Life Institute, have issued an open letter calling on world leaders to take a bold new approach to address ‘catastrophic’ risks to humanity. More
The Elders Call for Israel to Comply with ICJ Measures

The Elders Call for Israel to Comply with ICJ Measures Jan 30, 2024

In a new statement, The Elders – including Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon, Graça Machel, and Gro Harlem Brundtland – are calling on Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice: More
The Elders: Palestinian and Israeli Lives Must be Valued Equally in Global Response to Crisis

The Elders: Palestinian and Israeli Lives Must be Valued Equally in Global Response to Crisis Oct 26, 2023

The following is a statement from The Elders, a group of independent global leaders working for peace, justice and human rights, founded by Nelson Mandela and chaired by Mary Robinson: More
Elders Warn of Consequences of “One-State Reality” in Israel and Palestine

Elders Warn of Consequences of “One-State Reality” in Israel and Palestine Jun 26, 2023

Following their visit to Israel and and Palestine, Mary Robinson and Ban Ki-moon warn that a ‘one-state reality’ is now rapidly extinguishing the prospect of a two-state solution. More
The Elders Urge Global Co-Operation to Manage Risks and Share Benefits of AI

The Elders Urge Global Co-Operation to Manage Risks and Share Benefits of AI Jun 6, 2023

The Elders are calling on world leaders to work together urgently on the design of strong international governance, to allow all humanity to take advantage of the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI), while limiting the enormous risks. More
The Elders Call for International Condemnation of Russia's New START Suspension

The Elders Call for International Condemnation of Russia's New START Suspension Feb 24, 2023

On the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, The Elders call on all UN member states to condemn President Putin’s latest efforts to escalate his illegal war on Ukraine through suspending Russia’s participation in New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). More
The Elders Stress Neutrality on Ukraine Cannot be an Option Following Kyiv Visit

The Elders Stress Neutrality on Ukraine Cannot be an Option Following Kyiv Visit Aug 18, 2022

The Elders call for increased international support for Ukraine and stress that neutrality is not a moral option in the face of continued Russian aggression. More
The Elders Call for a Criminal Tribunal to Investigate Alleged Crime of Aggression in Ukraine

The Elders Call for a Criminal Tribunal to Investigate Alleged Crime of Aggression in Ukraine Mar 7, 2022

The Elders today call for a special criminal tribunal to investigate the alleged crime of aggression in Ukraine, and hold President Putin to account for the invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. More
The Elders Deplore Putin’s Nuclear Escalation and Urge Continued NATO Restraint

The Elders Deplore Putin’s Nuclear Escalation and Urge Continued NATO Restraint Mar 1, 2022

The Elders today denounced President Vladimir Putin’s decision to place Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal on “special alert” status as a reckless escalation of the conflict in Ukraine that underscores the existential threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons. More
The Elders Condemn Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine as a Reckless Threat to World Peace

The Elders Condemn Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine as a Reckless Threat to World Peace Feb 25, 2022

The Elders today condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and a reckless, unjustifiable act of aggression that threatens to destabilise world peace and security. More
The Elders Warn Civilians Will Pay the Price if Diplomacy Fails in Ukraine Crisis

The Elders Warn Civilians Will Pay the Price if Diplomacy Fails in Ukraine Crisis Jan 26, 2022

The Elders today warned that innocent civilians will pay the price for political failure if the current tensions over Ukraine continue to escalate, and urged all parties to work in good faith for a peaceful solution through dialogue. More
The Elders Call on African Leaders to Push for Urgent Ceasefire in Ethiopia

The Elders Call on African Leaders to Push for Urgent Ceasefire in Ethiopia Dec 3, 2021

The Elders today urged African leaders to intervene to stop the conflict in Ethiopia escalating into a regional crisis and an even worse humanitarian disaster. More
The Elders Deplore Dereliction of Leadership at COP26

The Elders Deplore Dereliction of Leadership at COP26 Nov 22, 2021

Following the conclusion of COP26 in Glasgow, The Elders express their deep disappointment that world leaders have not yet had the courage to head off the worst impacts of the climate crisis. More
The Elders Urge Leaders to Act on Climate as IPCC Assessment Lays Bare Unprecedented Crisis

The Elders Urge Leaders to Act on Climate as IPCC Assessment Lays Bare Unprecedented Crisis Aug 11, 2021

Responding to the new report from the world’s foremost scientific authority on climate change – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders said: More
The Elders: The UN and AU Must Act Now to Prevent Famine and End Atrocities in Tigray, Ethiopia

The Elders: The UN and AU Must Act Now to Prevent Famine and End Atrocities in Tigray, Ethiopia Jun 15, 2021

The Elders today called on the UN Security Council and the African Union to take urgent steps to address the unfolding humanitarian and human rights crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia, which poses a clear threat to regional peace and security in the Horn of Africa. More
The Elders Warn Myanmar Risks State Failure Without Significant Increase in International Pressure

The Elders Warn Myanmar Risks State Failure Without Significant Increase in International Pressure Jun 2, 2021

The Elders today called on the international community to intensify pressure on the military leadership in Myanmar to prevent the country descending into endemic violence and state failure. More
UK Nuclear Announcement ‘Shocking and Alarming’ Warn The Elders

UK Nuclear Announcement ‘Shocking and Alarming’ Warn The Elders Mar 17, 2021

Following the release by the UK government of its Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders said: More
The Elders Warn That The World Remains Dangerously Off Track On Climate

The Elders Warn That The World Remains Dangerously Off Track On Climate Mar 4, 2021

The Elders have voiced grave concern about the lack of ambition from many world leaders, as the UN reports back on carbon commitments ahead of the crucial COP26 climate summit in Glasgow this November. More
The Elders Welcome US-Russian Agreement to Extend New START Nuclear Treaty

The Elders Welcome US-Russian Agreement to Extend New START Nuclear Treaty Jan 28, 2021

The Elders today welcomed the agreement by US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) for five years. More
The Elders Explore Hope, Leadership and the COVID-19 Recovery in Finding Humanity Podcast

The Elders Explore Hope, Leadership and the COVID-19 Recovery in Finding Humanity Podcast Jan 25, 2021

The Elders explore hope, leadership and the COVID-19 recovery in a new series of the Finding Humanity podcast. More
The Elders Welcome US Re-Engagement on Climate, WHO; Call for Renewed Commitment on Nuclear Threat

The Elders Welcome US Re-Engagement on Climate, WHO; Call for Renewed Commitment on Nuclear Threat Jan 22, 2021

The Elders today welcomed the decisions by newly-inaugurated US President Joe Biden to rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change and cease the process of withdrawal from the World Health Organization. More
The Elders Warn Yemen Famine Will be Worsened by US Designation of Houthis as Terrorists

The Elders Warn Yemen Famine Will be Worsened by US Designation of Houthis as Terrorists Jan 18, 2021

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. More
Prepare, Prioritise, Promote: The Elders’ three pillars for public health after COVID-19

Prepare, Prioritise, Promote: The Elders’ three pillars for public health after COVID-19 Dec 16, 2020

The Elders this week launched a new report, “Building Back Better for Universal Health”, setting out three key pillars to inform the leadership needed from governments and policymakers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic at a national and global level: More
The Elders Hope For A Sea-Change In US Engagement On Global Challenges

The Elders Hope For A Sea-Change In US Engagement On Global Challenges Nov 10, 2020

The Elders congratulate US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their election victory. More
New COVID-19 Justice Fund Targets $1 million for Grassroots Groups

New COVID-19 Justice Fund Targets $1 million for Grassroots Groups Jul 22, 2020

On the heels of Mandela Day, global leaders and civil society groups are proud to launch the COVID-19 Grassroots Justice Fund to help marginalised and oppressed communities protect their rights during the pandemic and ensure equitable recovery. More
The Elders Urge a Revival of Multilateralism on UN’s Anniversary to Reshape the World After COVID-19

The Elders Urge a Revival of Multilateralism on UN’s Anniversary to Reshape the World After COVID-19 Jul 1, 2020

The Elders today called on world leaders to recommit to the values of the UN Charter and strengthen the effectiveness of the multilateral system as the best way of overcoming existential threats like pandemics, climate change and nuclear proliferation. More
The Elders Call for Bold Multilateralism to Drive Global Response to COVID-19

The Elders Call for Bold Multilateralism to Drive Global Response to COVID-19 May 27, 2020

The Elders have urged leaders to put multilateralism, solidarity and human rights at the heart of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to prioritise the health and economic needs of poorer countries in the Global South in the coming weeks and months. More
Former World Leaders Launch Discussion on COVID-19 and Global Leadership With New Podcast

Former World Leaders Launch Discussion on COVID-19 and Global Leadership With New Podcast May 22, 2020

The Elders have announced their first ever podcast initiative, exploring the need for empathetic and principled leadership in the time of COVID-19. More
The Elders Call for New Middle East Peace Plan to Counter Israeli Annexation Threat

The Elders Call for New Middle East Peace Plan to Counter Israeli Annexation Threat May 14, 2020

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 in the face of plans by the new Israeli government to illegally annex swathes of the West Bank. More
The Elders Call for Global Resolve and Solidarity in Fight Against COVID-19

The Elders Call for Global Resolve and Solidarity in Fight Against COVID-19 Mar 20, 2020

The Elders today called on global leaders and citizens alike to root their response to the Covid-19 pandemic in humanitarian principles and solidarity to save lives, defend rights and protect the most vulnerable groups in society. More