
‘Founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, The Elders are independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights. They sent Project Pause the link to their new podcast series ‘Finding Humanity’ which brings voices from the front lines of war and injustice’.
“The mass movement of people is a global phenomenon; one that is here to stay. A former refugee myself, as a child, I experienced the trauma and wrenching displacement of fleeing my home during the Korean War. The human suffering I witnessed as I fled my burning village with my parents continued to haunt me in the days and years to come.
As UN Secretary-General, I met so many children around the world, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, who reminded me of my own painful experiences. Seeing myself in each of them, I have remained determined to elevate the plight of refugees to the top of the global agenda today. As part of The Elders, I know that unless we unite in the face of this global problem, refugees will continue to experience levels of marginalisation and exploitation in direct contravention of their human rights.” Ban Ki-moon, The Elders.
Episode 3: (Special edition episode with The Elders)
Leaving No One Behind: Former UN High Commissioners For Human Rights Discuss Shared Humanity, Ethics and COVID-19
COVID-19 has unearthed a global recognition that “we must do things differently.” The uncertainty has called into question our shared vulnerabilities and shared humanity. What progress have we made on global human rights? What lessons can history teach us about our failure to prioritize human rights in moments of crisis?
In this episode, we’ll discuss justice, intersectionality and the COVID-19 response with two leaders at the forefront of defending human rights. We explore our responsibility toward the world’s most vulnerable populations and how to ensure the COVID-19 response does not set back human rights trends globally.