Dear friends,

It is an honour to write to you for the first time in my new capacity as Chair of The Elders.

I have been a proud member of this group since we were first brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007.

Now, building on the powerful legacies of my predecessors as Chair Archbishop Tutu and Kofi Annan, and working together with our new Deputy Chairs Ban Ki-moon and Graça Machel, I am confident as Chair that our voice can both be heard by leaders, and amplify grassroots activists, at this critical moment for peace, justice and human rights worldwide.

The Elders met last week in London for our biannual board meeting. This was a serious and intensive occasion, and the loss of Kofi Annan was keenly felt by all who attended. The meeting was chaired by Gro Brundtland, who has done so much to guide and sustain us as Acting Chair in the months since Kofi’s sudden passing.

Recent highlights

Watch our event Challenging Human Rights Leadership with The Elders, future leaders and former UN High Commissioners for Human Rights: Louise Arbour and Zeid Raad Al Hussein.