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Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address during Geneva Peace Week 2024. Reflecting on Kofi Annan’s legacy and the current global leadership crisis in peace efforts, she called for greater respect for humanitarian law, and advocated for gender parity in leadership, emphasising the need for women’s inclusion in peacebuilding. Full Remarks…
Mary Robinson: “The current failure of leadership is not gender neutral”
Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address during Geneva Peace Week 2024. Reflecting on Kofi Annan’s legacy and the current global leadership crisis in peace efforts, she called for greater respect for humanitarian law, and advocated for gender parity in leadership, emphasising the need for women’s inclusion in peacebuilding. Full Remarks from Mary Robinson Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address, 15 October 2024. These remarks were first published by The Elders. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen It is an honour and a pleasure to be with you here tonight in my capacity as Chair of The Elders to deliver the Kofi…
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We, the Kofi Annan Foundation, add our voices to the many who are calling for the urgent cessation of hostilities, the immediate release of all hostages by Hamas, and the unimpeded provision of humanitarian relief for civilians in Gaza. Kofi Annan often cited the African proverb that cautions us that “when the…
Kofi Annan Foundation Statement on Israel-Hamas Conflict: We must always prioritize humanity
We, the Kofi Annan Foundation, add our voices to the many who are calling for the urgent cessation of hostilities, the immediate release of all hostages by Hamas, and the unimpeded provision of humanitarian relief for civilians in Gaza. Kofi Annan often cited the African proverb that cautions us that “when the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” It has long been clear that in any conflict between Hamas and Israel, it is Palestinian and Israeli civilians who suffer. In this case, many have been children. Israeli citizens were attacked and faced horrific acts of murder and brutality…
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An open letter from Kofi Annan Foundation Board member Graça Machel, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Vera Songwe, and Maria Ramos. COVID-19 has unearthed massive inequalities within our societies and brought to glaring light the unique burdens which women carry the world over. As we respond to the impacts of COVID-19 both in…
Open Letter: Times of unprecedented crisis present unique opportunities for unprecedented action
An open letter from Kofi Annan Foundation Board member Graça Machel, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Vera Songwe, and Maria Ramos. COVID-19 has unearthed massive inequalities within our societies and brought to glaring light the unique burdens which women carry the world over. As we respond to the impacts of COVID-19 both in the immediate and long term, we have an unprecedented opportunity to completely redesign our ways of living with innovative and large-scale action to cater for the magnitude of the task of transforming the African continent. Allocation of response resources should be targeted towards the immediate needs of managing…
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GENEVA – The Kofi Annan Foundation and Interpeace are proud to take part in the 2019 edition of the European Development Days (EDD). Organised by the European Commission, the EDD brings the development community together each year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to…
Does Equality in Peace Matter?
GENEVA – The Kofi Annan Foundation and Interpeace are proud to take part in the 2019 edition of the European Development Days (EDD). Organised by the European Commission, the EDD brings the development community together each year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Inequality is a critical obstacle to the construction of peaceful, inclusive, and resilient societies. However, the mechanism behind this, especially in low-income or post-conflict states, has not been thoroughly examined. The Kofi Annan Foundation and Interpeace will co-host a session: ‘Does Equality in…
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After one year of consultations held across Rakhine State and in other parts of the country and the region, the Advisory Commission submitted its final report to national authorities on 23 August. The report recommends urgent and sustained action on a number of fronts to prevent violence, maintain peace, foster reconciliation and offer…
Advisory Commission on Rakhine State: Final Report
After one year of consultations held across Rakhine State and in other parts of the country and the region, the Advisory Commission submitted its final report to national authorities on 23 August. The report recommends urgent and sustained action on a number of fronts to prevent violence, maintain peace, foster reconciliation and offer a sense of hope to the State’s hard-pressed population. The final report of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, chaired by Kofi Annan, puts forward recommendations to surmount the political, socio-economic and humanitarian challenges that currently face Rakhine State. It builds on the Commission’s interim report released in…
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This article originally appeared in the Daily Graphic. I was saddened to learn of the deaths of four demobilised rebels this week during and after the crack-down on their armed uprising to demand a pay-off for past services rendered. My thoughts go to their families, as well as to the security forces…
Côte d'Ivoire: Mutiny undermines country’s prospects
This article originally appeared in the Daily Graphic. I was saddened to learn of the deaths of four demobilised rebels this week during and after the crack-down on their armed uprising to demand a pay-off for past services rendered. My thoughts go to their families, as well as to the security forces who were wounded during the intervention. These repeated armed uprisings are deeply concerning. The population periodically finds itself hostage to armed men who are supposed to be in charge of its protection. Ivoirians and their neighbours, like me, are unsettled. Like most West Africans, I was happy to…
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Cet article est apparu originellement sur FratMat. J’ai été peiné d’apprendre la mort de quatre « démobilisés » hier, surtout après le décès d’un des leurs lors de la récente mutinerie des forces armées. Mes pensées vont à leurs familles ce soir, ainsi qu’aux agents des forces de l’ordre blessés au cours…
Côte d'Ivoire: Les soulèvements armés à répétition minent l’avenir
Cet article est apparu originellement sur FratMat. J’ai été peiné d’apprendre la mort de quatre « démobilisés » hier, surtout après le décès d’un des leurs lors de la récente mutinerie des forces armées. Mes pensées vont à leurs familles ce soir, ainsi qu’aux agents des forces de l’ordre blessés au cours de leur intervention. Ces soulèvements armés à répétition n’en demeurent pas moins profondément préoccupantes. La population se retrouve périodiquement prise en otage par des hommes censés la protéger. Tant les Ivoiriens que leurs voisins, comme moi, en ont été ébranlés. Comme la plupart des Africains de l’Ouest, j’étais…
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At the behest of the Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and in collaboration with the Kofi Annan Foundation, the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State has been founded as a neutral and impartial body which aims to propose concrete measures for improving…
Advisory Commission on Rakhine State launches new website
At the behest of the Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and in collaboration with the Kofi Annan Foundation, the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State has been founded as a neutral and impartial body which aims to propose concrete measures for improving the welfare of all people in Rakhine state. It is composed of six local and three international experts, and is chaired by Kofi Annan. In its work, it considers humanitarian and developmental issues, access to basic services, legal questions including citizenship and the assurance of basic rights, and…
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Yangon, 5 September 2016: In the presence of the State Counselor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Commission’s chair and chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Kofi Annan, the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State holds its inaugural session in Yangon today. On Tuesday 6…
Advisory Commission on Rakhine State holds inaugural meeting in Yangon
Yangon, 5 September 2016: In the presence of the State Counselor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Commission’s chair and chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Kofi Annan, the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State holds its inaugural session in Yangon today. On Tuesday 6 September, the Commission will travel to Sittwe, Rakhine State, to meet with the authorities and representatives of various communities. The Commission’s chair will meet the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Htin Kyaw and the Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw on the morning of…
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Geneva – At the request of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Su Kyi, Kofi Annan will chair an advisory commission on Rakhine State. The overall objective of the Commission, which will be assisted by the Kofi Annan Foundation, is to provide recommendations on the complex challenges facing Rakhine. The Commission will initiate…
Kofi Annan to chair Advisory Commission on Rakhine State
Geneva – At the request of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Su Kyi, Kofi Annan will chair an advisory commission on Rakhine State. The overall objective of the Commission, which will be assisted by the Kofi Annan Foundation, is to provide recommendations on the complex challenges facing Rakhine. The Commission will initiate a dialogue with political and community leaders in Rakhine with the aim of proposing measures to improve the well-being of all the people of the State. In its work, the Commission will consider humanitarian and developmental issues, access to basic services, the assurance of basic rights, and the…
