MONROVIA, Liberia – The immediate past president of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been named as one of three members to recently join the United Nations’ peace, justice and human rights campaign illustrious group, The Elders.
The Elders announced on Tuesday with great pleasure that three new members including ex-president Sirleaf a Nobel Peace Laureate-2011, Juan Manuel Santos; another Nobel Peace Laureate-2016 and former president of Colombia; and an outspoken defender of human rights for the UN, Jordanian royal Zeid Raad Al Hussein, who worked for United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2014-2018.
The new Elders will join the group in its second decade of campaigning for peace, justice and human rights.
The Elders was founded in 2007 by former UN secretary-general South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, who charged the group with a mandate to “support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where this is conflict and inspire hope where there is despair.”
“I am delighted to welcome three such esteemed new members to our group. Ellen, Juan Manuel and Zeid each bring valuable and distinctive perspectives on issues that are central to our work, from human rights and peace-building to gender equality and justice for all. I look forward to them playing critical roles in our current and future initiatives across the globe,” said Mary Robinson, the chair of The Elders.
For her part, former president Sirleaf said: “It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of great Africans like Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu and Kofi Annan. The Elders’ work to promote justice, equality and human rights is needed more than ever. I look forward to working with them to inspire people everywhere, particularly women and girls, to reach for their true potential, break through barriers and pursue their dreams.”
The Elders have led several interventions in Sudan, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Kenya and North Africa.
Source: The Elders
