"There needs to be an independent and credible international investigation into alleged violations of human rights in Sri Lanka."

Writing in The Times, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu warn that without pressure from the Human Rights Council and the Commonwealth, the human tragedies of Sri Lanka’s civil war will not be accounted for.

“We ought to do everything in our power to ensure girls can become all they can be.” Desmond Tutu

In November, Desmond Tutu and Graça Machel took part in a Girls Not Brides conference discussing how to end child marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa. The event in South Africa brought together activists, campaigners and experts from across the continent.

In a video interview with David Frost for Al Jazeera, Desmond Tutu offers his personal insight into the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and his concerns for the recent developments taking place in the country. Later, joined by Jimmy Carter, they discuss The Elders’ involvement in the Middle East and how they as an organisation decide where to focus their efforts.

“This new outbreak of violence is heartbreaking – and all too familiar." Desmond Tutu

As violence escalates in Gaza and Israel, the Elders call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and for the international community to renew efforts to resolve the decades-long conflict.

“The empowerment of girls holds the key to development and security for families, communities and societies worldwide.”

In an opinion piece published in newspapers around the world for the International Day of the Girl, Desmond Tutu and Ela Bhatt call on the international community to commit to ending child marriage in one generation – letting girls fulfil their potential for generations to come.

“It’s not just throwing money at the problem. The idea is to ensure that the standards are respectful of the customs and traditions of the community.”

In an interview with The Washington Post, following his meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Washington DC, Desmond Tutu discusses The Elders' work to tackle early marriage and welcomes new aid commitments from the US and others to fund programmes that work with communities to end this harmful practice.

"With or without legislation, we urge the Obama administration to make eliminating child marriage a foreign policy goal."

Writing in the Washington Post, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu say we are not doing enough to fulfil our responsibility to protect young people from early marriage, and call on the United States government to make tackling child marriage a central focus of its international development agenda.

During their visit to London last week Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson were interviewed by CNN's Becky Anderson about their upcoming trip to Sudan & South Sudan, the current situation there, and what they hoped to achieve. 

“What can The Elders do that other groups and organisations, like the UN, can't do?”

As The Elders celebrate five years since Nelson Mandela founded the organisation, Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson join Robin Lustig on BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight to explain how the group was brought together, how they work – and what makes The Elders different.

“I share the frustration of millions, outraged at the indifference world leaders are demonstrating towards some of the toughest and most urgent challenges we face today.”

Writing in the Huffington Post, Desmond Tutu voices his exasperation with our current leaders and looks to the next generation for the bold action needed to safeguard the future of our planet.