The agreement reached at COP27 in Egypt shows that solidarity and co-operation between nations on the world’s most pressing issues is possible through negotiation and compromise, even in testing times. But the world needs urgent actions, not just carefully crafted words, to avoid climate catastrophe. We welcome governments’ reaffirmation of the need to limit the […]
The Elders
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The Elders stress neutrality on Ukraine cannot be an option following Kyiv visit
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. Upon their return from Kyiv, Elders Ban Ki-moon and Juan Manuel Santos urged the Ukrainian government to make its case for support in capitals all around the world. Public solidarity […]
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The Elders call for a criminal tribunal to investigate alleged crime of aggression in Ukraine
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. The Elders welcome the opening of an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor into alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity or […]
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The Elders mourn the loss of Archbishop Desmond Tutu
December 26, 2021 – The Elders are deeply saddened at the passing of their dear friend and colleague Archbishop Desmond Tutu. His death follows a long and brave battle against ill health, which never dimmed his determination to fight against injustice in all its forms. “Arch”, as he liked to be called, was the first […]
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The Elders deplore dereliction of leadership, as COP26 gives leaders twelve months to take more decisive action on climate crisis
November 15, 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. The Elders call on the UN Secretary-General to take a direct lead in maintaining relentless pressure on the worst-performing states, until they do their part to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. Such leadership should draw on his admirable new […]
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The Elders condemn Israel’s illegal settlement expansion and call on its allies to act
The Elders today expressed their grave concern at the advancement of Israeli plans for more than 3,100 new homes in illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Such action directly threatens the viability of the two-state solution, violates Palestinian rights and undermines the claims of Israel’s new coalition government to be following a more constructive […]
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The Elders urge heads of state to demonstrate personal leadership on pandemic prevention
The Elders today called on world leaders to take direct, personal responsibility for leading efforts to prevent a future global pandemic and manage the continued threat posed by COVID-19, by publicly committing to decisive actions in the collective public interest. Following their first in-person meeting for over twenty months in Washington DC, The Elders appealed […]
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The Elders call on UN Security Council to address root causes of Israeli-Palestinian violence
The Elders today called on the UN Security Council to act urgently to prevent further military attacks in Israel and Palestine and address the root causes of the conflict. Hamas must cease its indiscriminate rocket strikes against Israeli civilians, and Israel must immediately end its assault on Gaza, which has resulted in many civilian deaths. […]
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The Elders deeply regret the postponement of Palestinian elections
As Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announces the postponement of parliamentary elections, Lakhdar Brahimi and Mary Robinson express concern for reconciliation and democratic rights. Lakhdar Brahimi, member of The Elders said: “Over the past year, The Elders have held virtual meetings with Palestinian civil society and young activists. Many were disillusioned by the lack of progress […]
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The Elders: Leaders Summit on Climate a welcome step but major powers must do more
April 23, 2021 – Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders said: “Climate change is a global challenge that demands a global solution. President Biden’s summit is a welcome step towards effective international cooperation, but all major powers must do a lot more, a lot quicker in concert if we are to avert environmental catastrophe. The US […]
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Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders: UK nuclear announcement ‘shocking and alarming’ warn the Elders
March 16, 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: The announcement today by the UK Government of its intention to increase by over 40% the cap on its nuclear warhead numbers is surprising and deeply […]
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The Elders welcome US re-engagement on climate, WHO; call for renewed commitment on nuclear threat
January 21, 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. They encouraged similar multilateral engagement on nuclear arms control and international security issues, including a quick agreement to extend the New START nuclear agreement with Russia, and re-engagement with Iran and the international community on […]
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The Elders express deep concern at failure to respect US democratic transition of power
November 12, 2020 – The Elders today expressed deep concern about US President Donald Trump’s refusal to adhere to the protocols and processes governing the transition of power, as putting at risk the functioning of American democracy. The continued assertions of electoral fraud by the President and some senior members of the Administration and of […]
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The Elders hope for a sea-change in US engagement on global challenges
November 9, 2020 – The Elders congratulate US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their election victory. They also welcome the scale of voter participation in this US election, underscoring the resilience of American democracy. The Elders hope that the incoming administration, as well as seeking to unite a divided country, will […]
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The Elders call for urgent action to address multilateral failings exposed by COVID-19
October 22, 2020 – As Elders, we call today on world leaders to urgently strengthen, defend, and realize the potential of the multilateral system. This is the fundamental requirement to end the current disarray in the global order, and tackle existential threats such as COVID-19, the climate crisis and nuclear conflict. We also call for […]
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The Elders call for new Middle East peace plan to counter Israeli annexation threat
May 11, 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. A new initiative in the spirit of the Madrid […]
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The Elders call for global resolve and solidarity in fight against COVID-19
March 18, 2020 – The Elders today call 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. The pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge for governments, heads of state and international institutions. As […]
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The Elders' statement on the unprecedented attack on multilateralism
The multilateral system is under unprecedented attack. Isolationist and arbitrary actions by leading powers, including the United States, are threatening to undermine critical efforts to tackle global challenges from nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation to climate change, and the regulation of international trade. The Elders urge all world leaders to acknowledge that effective multilateralism is in […]
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The Elders condemn US shift on Israeli settlements as attack on international law
November 20, 2019 – The Elders today strongly condemned the policy shift announced by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the legality of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories as injurious to peace and an attack on the broader system and values of international law. They emphasised that the change in US policy does not […]
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The Elders warn of escalating nuclear tensions following termination of INF Treaty
July 28, 2019 – The Elders warned today that the imminent termination of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the United States and Russia risks sparking an ever greater escalation of nuclear tensions and a breakdown of global security structures. They noted that each side has blamed the other in a deepening cycle of […]