What kind of world do we want for our great-great-grandchildren?
Good jobs? Clean air? Leaders who listen to them?
Watch the new Elders+Youngers video and join the debate.
What kind of world do we want for our great, great grandchildren?
As world leaders gear up for the Rio+20 summit on sustainable development this June, join the Elders+Youngers to debate the future we want – and how we get there.
Sudan and South Sudan: return to dialogue
“The terrible lessons of war seem to have been forgotten already.” Desmond Tutu
As Sudan and South Sudan teeter on the brink of war again, The Elders urge the Presidents of the two countries to cease military escalation and return to the negotiating table. Read the press release.
Aung San Suu Kyi elected to parliament
“We pray that Aung San Suu Kyi and her country are now on a path to freedom” – Desmond Tutu
The Elders congratulate Daw Suu Kyi ahead of her first appearance in parliament, and announce that she will be standing down as an honorary Elder as she assumes public office in Burma/Myanmar. Read the statement.
“A fiercely independent and robust force for good”
Nelson Mandela founded The Elders in 2007, setting out his vision of a small group of leaders committed to addressing global challenges - from child marriage to climate change.
“Indian communities and their leaders are starting to realise how much potential lies in the empowerment of their sisters, mothers, wives and daughters.”
Desmond Tutu argues that India has an opportunity to set an example to the rest of the world - by putting girls and women at the centre of its development. Read his blog.
Kofi Annan withdraws from The Elders temporarily
Following his appointment by the United Nations and League of Arab States as Joint Special Envoy on the Syrian crisis, Kofi Annan has decided to temporarily withdraw from The Elders.
“Nearly three years since the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the Sri Lankan government there has still been no serious domestic investigation of the many allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both sides during the civil war's final stages. These tragic events cannot simply be ignored.”
Archbishop Tutu and Mary Robinson urge the UN Human Rights Council to support a resolution that seeks accountability for the terrible violations of international law that have taken place in Sri Lanka. Read more.
“My life, my decision: stop child marriage”
Desmond Tutu, Ela Bhatt, Gro Brundtland and Mary Robinson travelled to Bihar, India, to meet boys and girls involved in Jagriti, an innovative youth-led campaign to stop child marriage.
Read Gro Brundtland's blog about meeting the young volunteers involved in the project.
Deliver real action on sustainable development
“Business as usual is no longer acceptable.”
The Elders are calling on political, business and civil society leaders around the world to take bold actions and binding decisions to build a more equitable and sustainable world. Read the Elders' Alert.