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Kofi Annan appointed Chair of The Elders

The Elders in Gaza

Middle East peace

After decades of peace process, there is still no peace.

Find out more about The Elders' work to support civil society working for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East

Press release

The Elders call on Europe to play a stronger role in the Middle East

Peace is possible. Israelis and Palestinians deserve it and can achieve it. Ordinary people can make a difference. Make your voice heard now.
Fernando H Cardoso
Brazil
The time for terror is long past... we now need to support each other by building trust and understanding between all nations so that our children and grandchildren may grow in harmony for a peace
Susie Briscoe
UK
Forgiveness and Love are difficult when differences are long standing. We offer our support to anyone who can overcome their personal hurts and care for other human beings as themselves.
Jan & John
Calgary Canada
Tolerance, Respect for Human Rights and Peace, can't no be achieve separately. Our world without those 3 elements is just unsustainable.
Marga Britto
Mexico
I am praying for peace for ALL Palestinians and Israelis. It has been too long coming. All children, everywhere, deserve a peaceful future.
Linda Bozant
University of Mississippi
I would like to suggest that peace is not an end state, but the by-product of something else. What is that "something else?"
Monika Aring
Seattle, WA
There is an historic opportunity for Peace. Palestinians and Israelis should seize it, for their own sake, and that of their children.
Gro Brundtland
Norway
Education The future - they are our children - Have you noticed how smart they are? - they never hold grudges - It's time we grow up - by re-writing the History books - to obtain peace.
Marie-Christine
France
An alternative that could end poverty, war, pollution and most crime is a resource based economy. Google It.
Harald
Sweden
Let peace live in every home and heart.
Taofeek Ayanwale Adeola
Lagos, Nigeria.
Peace , a simply word with a great meaning! Inside this word we are friendship, collaboration, love, union, the sounds of our hearts...Try to follow this word in every moment of our life!
Nella
Italy
Peace is personal, first of all. When we have peace in our hearts and within our families we can do more to create a peaceful world.
Eve Sullivan
USA
Reaching across human-made borders to our brothers & sisters in Peace. We are One.
Peace Monger
UK
Sadly, the meetings in Europe this week aren't leading to a breakthrough to halt Israeli settlements in Palestine and make way for the peace process to recommence. http://bit.ly/o9Cre
Eileen White Read
Washington, DC
To solve all global crisis, it isn't only for Israel but all UN member states must respect and live up the principles of each and every meaning stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Arafat Matovu
South Africa
An open apology to the Palestinians and acknowledgment of the mistakes the western world has made in the past, will show respect to all those who suffer, and this will give them hope and strength.
Gerardus Smeets
Germany
Thanks for all the work that has been done and best wishes for the future. Here's hoping you can get everyone back to their roots and back to the ground. Free the soil, free the people.
Syvan
Glesga
PEACE in the world starts in my heart. I promise to have happier thoughts and to love myself more each day. Thus, I change the outside by changing inside.
luis
mexico
Our Elders you are real heroes of this world, Middle eastern people were living together in peace many centuries, and it is possible again keep going and we will support you!
suleiman
Ireland
Peace will only come about if ordinary Israelis and Palestinians do something they might not typically do: reach out to the other, the stranger, interact and find common ground.
Mabel van Oranje
The Netherlands
The price we pay for destroying peace is too high we cannot afford it anymore.
Purity Mwangi
Kenya
It has been said that until the children of the Middle East sleep soundly in their beds, neither will children around the world. Please join us in this historic opportunity for peace.
Jeff Skoll
USA
I wish for you all the peace that can only be achieved by a powerful, grassroots commitment to love. I pray you take this chance to love and to be loved.
Virginia Masson
USA
I believe in the power of social and political debate in order to solve conflicts in a peaceful way. People are the backbone of this world, hurting them touches the world as a whole.
Wouter De Tavernier
Belgium
It is a beautiful and powerful stand for peace and prosperity, there is hope knowing that men and women such as the elders with years of experience and wisdom under their belt creating a movement.
kelly
greenville
In South Africa we learnt that when you cast aside fear, forgive and move forward with courage: anything is possible!
Corlia Peters
Cape Town
Releasing and letting go of the past is the first step towards forgiveness, understanding and the realization of Peace. The future is about all of us becoming ONE humanity ONE heart.
Roxana Badillo, Esq.
Arizona, USA
Why is not there a scientist among The Elders? Someone like Stephen Hawking or Jaque Fresco. Scientists are idealists who could provide important opinions on global issues
Guillermo Borbolla
Mexico
Help Greek politicians solve the debt crisis without exhausting to death the Greek people. The way they have begun solving the crisis does not allow growth.
ELENI ANTONOPOULOU
ATHENS, GREECE
Our planet needs to be free from the pursuit of selfish gain. I am an earthling & believe our Planet should be Under the rule of no man or woman. All animals deserve to be Free, as nature intended.
Christian Boshell
Dublin
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Syria crisis: "We are not able to keep up"

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We must have the courage to defend our values

#SriLanka vote - strong message for justice http://t.co/DFR9Rci7
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Strong @oxfamgb graphic shows number of people fleeing the conflict in #Syria since Jan 2012 #SyriaCrisis http://t.co/PlMvKbevrb
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In year since last BRICS summit, #Syria death toll has risen from 9000 to 70,000+ but they offer no new solutions. http://t.co/zaMDbEhHA6
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@WorldBank - Inclusive green growth is not a luxury - it's smart decision making every country can embrace: http://t.co/B54SHLqa #Rioplus20
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@TheElders close all offshore havens #WEF #Davos
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Slideshow: Scarce Water and Aid for 100,000 Refugees in South Sudan | Doctors Without Borders http://t.co/v6tnMgAW
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@TheElders Digital resource centre working to advance awareness+education +training abt Honour Killings.Please RT & help spread the word.
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Obama's Nightmare http://t.co/q2gHcPnu No one explains the #MiddleEast like Tom Friedman. Must read. #syria
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#Rioplus20 #YouthBlast report by @MGCY_UNCSD is launched today as part of the #IYD celebrations. Read it! https://t.co/bTfCUsQp
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One of mistakes made is not being more people-centred, #climatechange debate been about science not people suffering - Mary Robinson #EplusY
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RT @UNpYouth: Ban Ki-moon is calling on all #youth with a To-Do Action list ahead of #Rioplus20! http://t.co/3q2h6Y2C Are you up for the challenge?
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The snake always grows another head | very interesting opinion on #Israel #Palestine conflict http://t.co/6vuRuPOG
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RT @UNEP: [Video] #GEO5 findings explained: http://t.co/rmBnYL8X Renewed commitment and Rapid Scaling-Up of Successful Policies for the #FutureWeWant
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This cant be repeated enough: 'green economy' means monetising, commodifying nature. This is the "consensus" http://t.co/NmgADWX9 #RioPlus20
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Advocates educate Nepali priests in hopes of eradicating #childmarriage by 2015 http://t.co/dLsgQuK5 via @pressinstitute
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Vale ler: Relatório da @CampanhaCresca sobre segurança alimentar e sua conexão com inúmeras questões socioambientais - http://t.co/9yl4DgmE
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Great article from @thedailybeast on what @hrw calls the "appalling" conditions of #Palestinians in Lebanon: http://t.co/lW5BVdXX #Syria
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#India backs another @UN_HRC resolution condemning #SriLanka over failure to investigate human rights abuses http://t.co/BfmPlze9rY
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"Governments don't pay attention to the #UN" - Guatemalan activist Norma Maldonado in #Bali http://t.co/KF2qwDCtJv via @guardian #post2015
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@TheElders For sustainable development we need tax breaks and subsidies for social entrepreneurs, like those the oil companies enjoy.
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@TheElders: childmarriage is sometimes defended as tradition that can't change. But traditions are made by people. We can #endchildmarriage
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Five ways to meet an anticorruption millenium #development goal #Post2015 #post2015hlp by @anticorruption http://t.co/EKcbKKindu
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#Egypt: “there is no revolution without the participation of #women or without their security” http://t.co/dmGOcOT2 via @nytimes
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@HungerProject "When women are supported and empowered, all of society benefits." #DayoftheGirl http://t.co/2hVFqwgc
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RT @UN_Rioplus20: Curious about the #FutureWeWant and #RioPlus20? Check out @Rioplustwenties' new youth-friendly video introduction! http://t.co/0zsgGsG0
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Syrian opposition driven into arms of Islamists - interview w/ Peter Harling in @dw_english http://t.co/IxMS9jT8
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RT @DanielBekele: UN #Post2015 development agenda should be grounded in human rights. #globaldev #HLP http://t.co/fGGmnbs3Hk
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News

Sheikh Jarrah: solidarity in a shared city

The Elders

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela

Founder and Honorary Elder

Former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Laureate; a leader who has dedicated his life to the anti-apartheid struggle, democracy and equality; founder of The Elders.

Martti Ahtisaari

Martti Ahtisaari

Former President of Finland; Nobel Peace Laureate and expert in international peace mediation, diplomacy and post-conflict state building.

Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan

Chair of The Elders

Former UN Secretary-General, Nobel Peace Laureate and Chair of The Elders; put development, human rights, the rule of law, good governance and peace at the top of the United Nations agenda.

Ela Bhatt

Ela Bhatt

The ‘gentle revolutionary’; a pioneer in women’s empowerment and grassroots development, founder of the more than 1 million-strong Self-Employed Women’s Association in India.

Lakhdar Brahimi

Lakhdar Brahimi

Former Algerian freedom fighter, Foreign Minister, conflict mediator and UN diplomat; an expert in peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction.

Gro Harlem Brundtland

Gro Harlem Brundtland

Deputy Chair of The Elders

First woman Prime Minister of Norway and Deputy Chair of The Elders; a medical doctor who champions health as a human right; put sustainable development on the international agenda.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso

Fernando H Cardoso

Former President of Brazil; implemented major land reform programme, reduced poverty and significantly improved health and education; an acclaimed sociologist and global advocate for drug policy reform.

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter

Former President of the United States, Nobel Peace Laureate and veteran peace negotiator; dedicated to advancing peace, democracy and health worldwide.

Graça Machel

Graça Machel

International advocate for women’s and children's rights; former freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Mozambique.

Mary Robinson

Mary Robinson

First woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; a passionate, forceful advocate for gender equality, women’s participation in peace-building and human dignity.

Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu

Honorary Elder

Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel Peace Laureate and Honorary Elder; a veteran anti-apartheid activist and peace campaigner widely regarded as ‘South Africa’s moral conscience’.