Graça Machel, Deputy Chair of The Elders

Graça Machel co-founded The Elders with her husband, Nelson Mandela in 2007. She is a renowned international advocate for women’s and children’s rights. As Education Minister in Mozambique’s post-war government, she oversaw an increase in primary school enrolment from 40% of children in 1975 to over 90% of boys and 75% of girls by 1989. In 1994, she was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to assess the impact of armed conflict on children. Her landmark report established a new and innovative agenda for the comprehensive protection of children caught up in war. Graça Machel