The Elders (organization)

The Group of Elders (English, German Elders ), and Global Elders (World Elders ), is an association of former outstanding statesmen and - women, peace activists, human rights activists and prominent intellectuals. The aim of the group is to use the experience, relationships, and the public influence of the members to solve global problems. The foundation was given on July 18, 2007 by Nelson Mandela known together with his wife Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu.

The members

The Elders are prominent, respected figures, but who have no public functions. Speaking the resulting political independence and ability "free and brave ", is an essential characteristic of the Elders.

Active members

  • * Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize (Chairman)
  • Gro Harlem Brundtland *, former Norwegian Prime Minister and President of the World Health Organization (Substitute)
  • Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland, Nobel Peace Prize in 2008, since September 21, 2009
  • Ela Bhatt *, Indian women's rights activist and founder of SEWA, a sort of trade union for self-employed Indian women
  • Lakhdar Brahimi *, former Algerian diplomat and UN special envoy in Iraq, Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria.
  • Fernando Henrique Cardoso *, former president of Brazil 1995-2002
  • * Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and Nobel Peace Prize 2002
  • Hina Jilani, a human rights activist from Pakistan
  • Graça Machel *, human rights activist, First Lady of Mozambique (1975-1986) and South Africa (1998-1999)
  • * Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland
  • Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico

Honorary Members

  • * Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, Chairman of the Elders for 6 years, first chairman of the Elders.

Former members

  • * Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1993 and former President of South Africa
  • * Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of Grameen Bank, to September 21, 2009
  • Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner 1991
  • * Li Zhaoxing, Chinese Foreign Minister 2002-2007

While the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, an empty chair was symbolically placed at the meeting of the Elders.

The group has announced to invite other individuals to join the future. The acquisition of a public office requires quitting the group.

Financing

The Elders are promoted by a group of sponsors who so far mustered $ 18 million in donations. Initiators were adjacent to Nelson Mandela the musician Peter Gabriel and British entrepreneur Richard Branson.

Activities

As the first mission, the group posted on September 30, 2007, a four -member delegation ( Brahimi, Carter and Machel chaired by Tutu ) to Sudan, there to prepare an independent report on the situation in the Darfur conflict.

Another trip to Zimbabwe ( Machel, Carter and Annan ) has been canceled because of Carter and Annan no visas were issued. Officially declared, this could not be issued in time. Carter and Annan saw this but as a rejection of cooperation, since they had applied for visas already weeks in advance.

War in Darfur
269101
de