Elders Graça Machel, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu, who travelled to Ethiopia in June 2011 to bring together experts and activists working to end child marriage around the world, say we can end this harmful practice in one generation.
Graça Machel argues that through their creation of a hierarchical relationship between men and women, traditional practices have contributed to the discrimination of women and girls.
Graça Machel and Fernando Henrique Cardoso argue that education is the single most important issue to lay the foundations of women's equality.
Graça Machel and Mary Robinson state that though women are brutalised in conflict, they are not victims; they are actors for change.
Graça Machel says The Elders will try to ensure that the voices of those working at community level around the world are heard. "My dream is for us as Elders to get people together, acknowledging our differences, but more importantly, acknowledging the common bonds that tie us and ensuring that people everywhere are able to live the healthy productive lives they deserve."
