The Elders Follow The Elders on Social Media Search this site Menu Visit The Elders on Facebook Follow The Elders on Twitter Follow The Elders on Google+ YouTube Subscribe to The Elders RSS feed Email signup Home About The Elders Our Work News & Media Contact Global Village Searching for: Join the conversation Fairness is the central value that underpins the Sustainable Development Goals being launched this month. And we're holding a global conversation on what fairness means. Find out more Strengthening the UN Can the UN do more to prevent mass atrocities or make the selection process for the Secretary-General more democratic? As world leaders meet for the UN General Assembly, The Elders held two debates on strengthening the UN. Read more Gaza one year on: your questions answered Two experts on the ground answer your questions on the situation in Gaza. Read their responses here What next for the Iran deal? From now to 2025, several steps need to be taken to fulfil the agreement. Read Senior Analyst on Iran Ali Vaez's blog on ensuring the deal succeeds Read legal expert Eric Lorber's blog on lifting Iran's economic sanctions The Elders' annual report Diplomacy in Iran and Myanmar. Engagement on climate change. And promoting equality for girls and women. What The Elders did in 2014. View our annual report and find out our priorities for the coming year News 25 September 2015 The tipping point for human rights At 12.30pm EDT on Sunday, two Elders will be taking part in the 2015 Social Good Summit, in an event live streamed to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Tune in to watch it live. Read More News Kofi Annan, 24 September 2015 What do you see? "There's lots of goodness in the world. Don't go through life focusing on the negative." In our final film, the Chair of the Elders, Kofi Annan recalls a pivotal lesson where he was taught through a simple exercise to look at the bigger picture - a fundamental requirement when wrestling with what is fair in the modern world. Join our conversation on fairness yourself on Facebook or Twitter. Read more News Jimmy Carter, 22 September 2015 A dividing line "When I was 14 years old, I didn't realise at that time the devastating effect of discrimination on my neighbours." Jimmy Carter, in our fifth of seven films, describes his Object of Fairness. Join in the discussion yourself on Facebook or Twitter. Find out more News 21 September 2015 Four reasons why people think Iran wants the bomb In the wake of the potentially historic nuclear agreement of 14 July 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 countries, those opposed to the deal – in the US and elsewhere – continue to assume that Iran has been working to acquire nuclear weapons for years, and still wants to do so. Our Middle East analyst Nigel Pearce investigates the reasoning. Read More Guest blog Frances Stewart, 17 September 2015 One flaw in the Sustainable Development Goals may make the difference between success and failure Frances Stewart, Emeritus Professor of development economics at the University of Oxford and former Chair of the United Nations Committee for Development Policy, wonders if the weak coupling between economic growth and sustainability will do enough to change our reliance on non-renewable energy. Read her guest blog Press release 26 September 2015 The Elders and Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect call upon the UN Security Council to act to prevent mass atrocity crimes "No government, no matter what the circumstances, should be allowed to commit mass atrocities and escape accountability." Gro Harlem Brundtland and Hina Jilani joined others in calling for members of the UN Security Council to work collaboratively to enforce international law. Read the statement In The Media 23 September 2015 UN security council must be revamped or risk irrelevance, Kofi Annan warns The Guardian News 21 September 2015 Elders in New York: building a stronger UN Watch live: On 26 September Gro Harlem Brundtland, Hina Jilani and Ernesto Zedillo join experts, diplomats and UN officials to debate how to strengthen the UN. Read More News Mary Robinson, 19 September 2015 An extraordinary quality "Fairness is an extraordinary quality in life and it brings us together in solidarity that makes everyone better." Our second of seven films on fairness is presented by Mary Robinson. Below she explains why the UDHR is so important to her that she carries it wherever she goes. Join in the discussion yourself on Facebook or Twitter. Read more News Martti Ahtisaari, 18 September 2015 A decent start "I came from a fairly modest background, but I never felt I didn't have a chance in my society... It's never too expensive to give a chance for a decent beginning for everyone." In our first of seven films leading up to the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals, Martti Ahtisaari describes his object and what fairness means to him. Join in the discussion yourself on Facebook or Twitter. Read our first blog about fairness Opinion Gro Harlem Brundtland, Graça Machel, 16 September 2015 Securing a sustainable future "We do not face a choice between reducing poverty or addressing climate change, as the fossil-fuel companies maintain." Writing for Project Syndicate, Gro Harlem Brundtland and Graça Machel call on world leaders attending the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals in September to commit to putting the words of the Goals into action, justly and effectively. Read More The Elders Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) Founder Former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Laureate; a leader who dedicated his life to the anti-apartheid struggle, democracy and equality; founder of The Elders. More Martti Ahtisaari Former President of Finland; Nobel Peace Laureate and expert in international peace mediation, diplomacy and post-conflict state building. More 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. More 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. More Lakhdar Brahimi Former Algerian freedom fighter, Foreign Minister, conflict mediator and UN diplomat; an expert in peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction. More 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. More 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. More Jimmy Carter Former President of the United States, Nobel Peace Laureate and veteran peace negotiator; dedicated to advancing peace, democracy and health worldwide. More Hina Jilani Pioneering lawyer and pro-democracy campaigner; a leading activist in Pakistan's women's movement and international champion of human rights. More Graça Machel International advocate for women’s and children's rights; former freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Mozambique. More 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. More 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’. More Ernesto Zedillo Former President of Mexico who led profound democratic and social reforms; economist and advocate of multilateralism, inclusive globalisation, nuclear non-proliferation and drug policy reform. More The Elders Nelson Mandela (Founder) Martti Ahtisaari Kofi Annan Ela Bhatt Lakhdar Brahimi Gro Harlem Brundtland Fernando H Cardoso Jimmy Carter Hina Jilani Graça Machel Mary Robinson Desmond Tutu (Honorary Elder) Ernesto Zedillo About The Elders What is The Elders? What makes an Elder? How was the group formed? What do The Elders stand for? How do they work? How do The Elders decide what action to take? How can I support The Elders' work? Donors The Elders' team Job opportunities Our strategic framework 2014-17 Our Work A UN fit for purpose Climate change Elders+Youngers Equality for girls and women Iran Israel-Palestine Myanmar Publications Annual Report 2014 Strategic Framework 2014-17 News and Media Opinions News Press releases Guest blogs Photos Videos Contact Contact form Media contact FAQ Global Village Guest blogs Your messages On the web Newsletter archive The Elders are independent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. Connect Facebook Twitter Google+ RSS Feed YouTube © The Elders 2015 Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Sign up to receive monthly newsletters from The Elders. 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