Sep 8, 2018Stand in solidarity for justice and climate actionAs people across the US and around the world #RiseForClimate, Mary Robinson urges politicians and business leaders due to gather at the Global Climate Action Summit in California to heed their call for climate justice. Since President Trump’s announcement in 2017 that he was withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, I…Climate Change4 min read
Sep 18, 2017A call for bold city leadership on migration and climate changeWriting in Newsweek, Mary Robinson calls on cities to defiantly lead on global challenges like climate change and migration, especially when national leaders spurn their responsibilities. The sight of the Statue of Liberty never fails to stir any visitor to New York. For over a century, it has symbolised this…Refugees4 min read
Aug 11, 2017Anger and inspiration: what District Six can teach South Africa’s young generationSecond-year law student and District Six Museum volunteer Jordan Pieters marks International Youth Day by reflecting on the crucial role played by the museum in confronting historic and contemporary injustice in post-apartheid South Africa. Article first appeared on The Elders. Despite popular belief, outside of academic and political spaces and…South Africa3 min read
May 15, 2017The Elders’ Annual Review 2016: Solidarity Beyond BordersThe Elders have published their latest Annual Review. From launching a campaign for Universal Health Coverage to promoting a coordinated international response to refugees and mass migration, read our highlights from 2016. Reflecting on a year of tumultuous change, The Elders aspired to continue “to support courage where there is…Climate Change4 min read
Jan 17, 2017Moral and political leadership in a time of uncertaintyWriting in the Financial Times as the World Economic Forum 2017 opens in Davos, Mary Robinson says that millions of people feel left behind by the actions of governments and corporations. …Climate Change4 min read
Jan 4, 20172017: a year for hard questions and honest answersLooking ahead to the hard choices facing the world in 2017, our Chair Kofi Annan calls on leaders to be honest with their people and pledges that The Elders will continue to speak truth to power, as the organisation marks its tenth anniversary. This new year will be marked by…Refugees3 min read
Nov 30, 2016Acting together to secure a sustainable futureIn a world of rising intolerance, Mary Robinson draws courage from leaders working to tackle the global challenge of climate change. As this year draws to a close, it is hard not to feel daunted by the challenges posed by the current wave of political and economic uncertainty. All across…Climate Change3 min read
Jul 29, 2016Overcoming obstacles on the path to peaceRicardo Lagos, former President of Chile, draws on personal experience when he reflects on Colombia’s path to peace and the tensions between conflict resolution and upholding human rights. As a former President of Chile, and as someone who fought for democracy during the dark days of dictatorship under General Pinochet…Peace3 min read
May 23, 2016When the Security Council fails, the United Nations failsTo mark the first World Humanitarian Summit, five Elders are joined by Amnesty International and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect to call for veto restraint and increased cooperation amongst the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council, to prevent mass atrocities.United Nations1 min read
Apr 28, 2016After Paris: what next for climate action?Jenny Yates, Programme Director for The Elders, reflects on the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change by 175 countries and considers the road ahead for climate action. Last Friday 22 April, 175 countries signed the Paris Agreement on climate change at a ceremony convened by the UN Secretary-General…Climate Change3 min read
