- Principles and Framework of Activity.
1.1. Solidaritätsnetz International is an international human rights movement that unites activists, journalists, and civic initiatives striving for a free, just, and solidaristic society. Solidaritätsnetz International is not a political association but a decentralized network of independent cells operating on the principles of self-governance, direct democracy, and mutual support. Our mission is to protect human rights, counter arbitrariness, corruption, and discrimination, and create transparent and effective mechanisms of citizen participation in all spheres of public life. We unite people who are ready to act actively, promote justice, and expand the possibilities of each individual through human rights, journalistic, and civic activity, strengthening freedom and equality in practice.
1.2. The international movement Solidaritätsnetz International acts through peaceful methods, within the legal framework, focusing on dialogue with society and readiness for constructive compromises with liberal and democratic forces. The main goal is the gradual formation of a decentralized, just, and free society based on self-governance, equality, solidarity, and rejection of any forms of coercion.
1.3. The movement opposes militarism, authoritarianism, state violence against the individual, and the monopoly of power.
1.4. The flag of the movement is a black cloth with a white five-pointed star in the center. Along the four sides are the words “Work”, “Equality”, “Unity”, and “Solidarity” in French (Travail – Égalité – Unité – Solidarité). The white star symbolizes the idea of a free and self-governing community that serves as a guiding reference point for social justice. The black background reflects the anti-authoritarian character of the movement and its irreconcilability with all forms of oppression. The four key concepts designate the foundation of our social philosophy: free labor without coercion, genuine equality, horizontal unity of people, and the practice of solidarity as the main principle of social relations.
1.5. The main principle: Minimum state power – maximum local self-governance.
- Decentralization of Power and Strengthening Local Self-Governance.
2.1. Expansion of the powers of local communities, municipalities and communes, workers’ collectives and associations of free agricultural workers, associations of farmers.
2.2. Direct mechanisms of citizen participation: local referendums, public hearings, open budgets.
2.3. Transparency of all administrative processes and public control over government decisions; counteraction to lobbying and “backroom politics,” unacceptability of non-transparency and unmotivated administrative decisions.
2.4. Political accountability of officials before the community, including clear mechanisms for their immediate recall.
- Transformation of the Banking System into a Public Service.
3.1. We declare that the modern bank has turned into an element of a bureaucratic-control system that:
a) complicates the activities of small and medium-sized businesses with excessive inspections; b) creates artificial obstacles — account blocks, “checkbox-style” financial monitoring, formal requirements; c) in fact performs the functions of state and corporate oversight, rather than a public service.
3.2. Proposed reform:
a) transformation of banks into a public financial service operating according to transparent rules and under public control; b) minimum bureaucracy, open regulations, and standardized processes; c) civic supervisory councils at banks; d) guaranteed free accessibility of basic financial services to every person; e) preservation of space for private initiatives provided that basic financial functions are public.
- Development of Cooperative, Communal Economy, Private Property and Initiative.
4.1. Support for cooperatives, communes, workers’ associations.
4.2. Encouragement of transferring enterprises under self-management of workers’ collectives.
4.3. Transparent state and public programs supporting horizontal economic models.
4.4. Preservation of personal and basic private property with gradual expansion of collective and public forms of ownership.
4.5. The movement does not oppose basic private property or corporate ownership as such, and recognizes the value of private initiative and entrepreneurship. Our goal is not to eliminate personal assets or initiative, but to create a system in which any forms of property and business operate efficiently, socially responsibly, and under public control, preventing abuse, exploitation, and concentration of power. We support regulation and coordination that ensure a balance between freedom of private initiative and public good, making the economy transparent, fair, and sustainable.
4.6. The movement declares that an honest entrepreneur who works, creates value, pays taxes, and does not participate in corrupt collusions will receive our full support, protection, and assistance. Society is interested in allowing innovative people to develop business, implement new ideas, and create jobs — provided that their activities are transparent, effective, and do not violate public interests. In such a system, law-abiding private initiative is not only welcomed but becomes an important partner for sustainable and fair development.
4.7. A private owner, entrepreneur, businessperson, or innovative developer is a full member of society and the state, fully possessing civil and economic rights. Their activity is not restricted based on ownership or initiative; on the contrary, they gain access to all tools of protection and support from the state and society: legal protection, safeguards against corruption and unfair competition, as well as assistance in business development and innovation. We recognize that active and honest participants in the economy create jobs, introduce new technologies, and contribute to prosperity, therefore their freedom of action and right to profit are protected provided transparency, legality, and social responsibility.
4.8. The movement recognizes the right of individuals to personal land ownership if it is cultivated independently and used in an environmentally responsible manner. We support the unification of small landowners into cooperatives and communities, which strengthens the local economy and expands public participation in resource management. Agro-technical and corporate structures may lease land only under strict public control by local communities, including regulation of rent, protection of residents’ rights, and prevention of abuses in land relations.
4.9. The movement considers any forms of monopolies, cartels, and corporate concentration unacceptable, as they restrict competition, suppress the local economy, and undermine consumer freedom. We advocate active counteraction to monopolistic practices and development of a network of local communal storages and shops that provide essential goods at fair prices. Support for local business, family enterprises, and small trade must include tax reductions, subsidy systems, and equal competitive conditions so they can successfully withstand pressure from large chain corporations and preserve economic diversity in communities.
- Social guarantees and basic services.
5.1. Accessible healthcare, education, housing, and transport.
5.2. Social protection of vulnerable groups.
5.3. Cooperative and public housing models.
5.4. Citizen participation in managing social institutions at all levels.
5.5. The movement firmly opposes the creation of any form of digital authoritarian system, including surveillance infrastructures, centralized biometric databases, social scoring mechanisms, or technological practices that diminish human dignity or transform individuals into objects of algorithmic control. We reject any tendencies toward digital feudalism, in which corporations or state structures gain unchecked power over personal data, behavior, or basic civic rights. In the digital era, strict protection of personal information, privacy, and individual autonomy must be guaranteed at all levels. Collection, storage, and processing of data must be transparent, voluntary, limited in scope, and fully controlled by the individual. No digital identification system, biometric monitoring, or automated decision-making process may be used to restrict civic freedoms, discriminate against individuals, or impose coercive forms of social regulation. The movement supports legal frameworks ensuring digital rights, open-source public oversight, decentralized technological infrastructures, and the unconditional primacy of human rights over technological or commercial interests.
- Freedoms, Human Rights and Anti-Authoritarianism.
6.1. Protection of freedom of speech, assembly, association, and civic self-organization.
6.2. Support for independent media, journalistic investigations, and human rights initiatives. Counteraction to informal political hierarchy, bureaucratic arbitrariness, and any forms of repression.
6.3. Direct democratic mechanisms with the possibility of recalling representatives and officials. The principle of personal responsibility of politicians before society.
6.4. The movement does not support and condemns any forms of discrimination, chauvinism, racism, sexism, xenophobia, segregation, and other manifestations of inequality. We advocate a society based on respect for human dignity, equal rights for all, and rejection of dividing people by origin, culture, beliefs, gender, social status, or any other characteristic.
6.5. The movement recognizes and values the pluralism of languages, cultures, and religions, and opposes any discrimination or privileges on these grounds. No religion should receive special support from the state: the principle of secularization is strictly observed; religious organizations must pay taxes on general grounds if they provide paid services or goods. Donations cannot be disguised as payment for goods or services, and all charitable contributions must be accounted for transparently with open reporting by religious structures. This system ensures equality, transparency, and justice for all citizens regardless of their religious or cultural identity.
6.6. The volume of a person’s rights does not depend on political views, beliefs, or group affiliation. No repression, restriction of guarantees, or persecution can be justified by “wrong” views, unpopularity of a position, or negative media portrayal. Law and rights must apply equally to all, without exception or bias, ensuring protection of the individual regardless of public opinion or the position of authorities. Any attempts to restrict freedoms based on ideological differences undermine the fundamental principles of the rule of law and equality before the law.
- Environmental Sustainability.
7.1. Development of local production systems and reduction of ecological footprint.
7.2. Transition to sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources.
7.3. Public control over the use of natural resources.
7.4. Cooperative projects in recycling, energy saving, communal agriculture, and green infrastructure.
7.5. Protection of animal rights with high standards of humane treatment.
7.6. The movement recognizes climate change as a systemic global threat that demands coordinated and sustained action. We support a gradual transition to a climate-neutral economy through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, development of renewable energy, improvement of energy efficiency, adoption of environmentally responsible transport, and expansion of sustainable production systems. Protection and restoration of natural ecosystems—forests, soils, wetlands, and marine and freshwater habitats—are essential for carbon absorption and climate stabilization. Climate policy must be grounded in principles of justice: states and corporations that have historically contributed the most to environmental degradation bear the greatest responsibility, while vulnerable regions and communities must receive support and protection. Public oversight, transparent decision-making, and active involvement of local communities are crucial to ensuring that climate measures are effective, accountable, and aimed at long-term environmental stability.
- International Solidarity and Peace Policy.
8.1. Support for international networks of mutual assistance, cooperative unions, environmental, ethical, educational, and human rights initiatives.
8.2. Consistent pacifism: prioritizing diplomacy, mediation, compromise, and non-violent solutions.
8.3. The movement supports the creation of national and local cells based on local NGOs – autonomous associations operating on the principles of self-governance, direct democracy, and mutual support. Each cell is formed by people who share the values and goals of the program, are ready to engage in collective work, promote anti-authoritarian practices, and develop horizontal solidarity networks. These structures form a confederative network open to all who strive for a just, free, and decentralized society.
8.4. The movement opposes all forms of neocolonialism, child labor exploitation, and imposed inequality that artificially restrict the economic and social development of countries. The movement fights for the right of peoples to independently determine their economic policy, develop their own resources, and create conditions for fair distribution of benefits. Any external interventions that support exploitation, suppress initiative, or hinder sustainable development are considered unacceptable. The movement strives for international solidarity, fair trade, and freedom of development, under which each country and each person can realize their potential without external pressure and economic constraints.
8.5. Our Movement firmly opposes the mafia in all its manifestations – transnational, national, and especially those groups formed on an ethnic basis. At the same time, our position has nothing in common with chauvinism or discrimination based on nationality: we fight crime, not people of any origin. The movement contributes to solving crimes, identifying mafia structures, and actively cooperates with law enforcement agencies, ensuring transparency, legality, and protection of society from corruption, extortion, and violence. Our goal is to create a safe environment where the law applies equally to all and criminal groups cannot use social, ethnic, or economic barriers for protection.
- Anti-Militarism and Rejection of Conscription, Countering Terrorism.
9.1. The movement proceeds from the principle that a state conscription army is a form of restricting human freedom, contradicting personal dignity and the right to control one’s own life.
9.2. We oppose mandatory military service and any forms of forced mobilization. A person must not be compelled to fight for the interests of capital, political elites, or state corporations. Armed conflicts must be prevented by all possible political, diplomatic, and social means.
9.3. When preventing armed escalation is not possible, the movement advocates: a) development of a system of public control over armed structures; b) prevention of transforming the army into a source of authoritarianism, corruption, and military dictatorship; c) creation of mechanisms of civilian oversight of military decisions, budgets, and command; d) full transparency of security structures.
9.4. Professional military personnel (contract soldiers/mercenaries) must act strictly within international humanitarian law and under public control, not under the control of political elites.
9.5. The movement consistently condemns any forms of extremism, violence, and terrorism as methods of political struggle. We recognize the necessity of special services that prevent such threats, provided they strictly observe human rights, transparency, and accountability to society. Special services must be controlled by rotating public commissioners and elected prosecutors, act strictly within the law, and must not be used for political repression, persecution of the opposition, or pressure on civil society.
9.6. The movement does not support and condemns any forms of non-state paramilitary structures, private armed groups, underground armed formations, and other organizations using violence or coercion to achieve political, economic, or ideological goals. We advocate demilitarization of society, strict civilian control over all armed structures, and the inadmissibility of creating power groups outside democratic and publicly accountable mechanisms.
- Democratization of Justice and Security Structures.
10.1. To prevent abuse, corruption, and monopolization of power, the movement advocates: a) election of judges with limited terms and recall mechanisms; b) election of prosecutors to eliminate dependence on the executive branch; c) election of heads of police services at community and regional levels; d) transparent reporting of all security institutions; e) mandatory civilian oversight of police and judicial bodies; f) independent disciplinary commissions formed by society, not the authorities.
10.2. Our task is to transform justice and law enforcement bodies into public services, not instruments of coercion or political control.
10.3. The movement recognizes the importance of independent investigative activity and advocates legal support for private detectives and protection of the professional rights of lawyers. These institutions provide necessary balance in the legal system, contribute to public oversight, and prevent abuses by security structures. Materials collected by private detectives and lawyers, when they strictly follow human rights and procedural norms and principles of fair investigation, must be recognized as admissible evidence in court.
- Fair Tax Model and Redistribution of Public Resources.
11.1. The tax system must be built on principles of social justice, stimulation of real production, and restriction of parasitic economic practices.
11.2. Minimal taxes for the majority of citizens. Basic income must be taxed at minimal rates. The goal is to free workers and low-income families from excessive financial pressure and ensure access to basic services.
11.3. Progressive taxation of large incomes and accumulated capital. Large fortunes, super-profits, and highly specialized corporate profits must be taxed at increased rates. This allows limiting excessive accumulation of power and influence in the hands of narrow economic groups. The exception is income received from socially beneficial scientific activity.
11.4. Support for real production and socially beneficial economy. Material production, cooperatives, communal enterprises, local farms, environmentally friendly sectors, and socially important types of labor must have reduced tax rates, since they form the real economic foundation of society.
11.5. Higher tax burden on speculative and parasitic economic practices. Financial speculation, ultra-profitable intermediary schemes, and activity that does not create social value must be taxed at increased rates. This stimulates a shift toward productive and socially beneficial economic models.
11.6. Transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. Any tax mechanisms must be: a) fully transparent; b) controlled by communities; c) subordinated to mechanisms of direct democracy; d) aimed at reducing corruption and abuses by the state apparatus.
- Principles of Participation and Strategic Flexibility.
12.1. The movement Solidaritätsnetz International is built on principles of systemic struggle for maximum decentralization of power, self-governance, equality, solidarity, and rejection of any coercion. We view a free person as an active participant of society who exercises their rights and responsibilities in harmony with communities, labor collectives, and cooperatives.
12.2. At the same time, our Movement recognizes that existing state and economic structures remain, and honest participants of society may use available mechanisms to defend their rights and promote the values of justice. Members of the Movement have the right to participate in fair elections, hold positions in state and local institutions, work in private or cooperative enterprises – provided their activities comply with principles of transparency, legality, and social responsibility.
12.3. We proceed from the idea that gradual, conscious, and ethical influence on social, economic, and political processes is the most reliable way to achieve a free, just, and sustainable society. Decentralization, horizontal solidarity networks, and respect for individual initiative create a solid foundation for a future where freedom and equality do not contradict efficiency and development.
12.4. Our path is a combination of active civic position, constructive interaction with existing structures, and gradual expansion of space for self-governance and social justice. We have built a movement open to all who are ready to act responsibly, uphold the principles of freedom and solidarity, and create a society where human rights and the public good are inseparable.
Adopted by the Council
of Solidaritätsnetz International,
23 November 2025, Bern.