Charta 25
The document stands as a plea and a manifesto for democracy and against authoritarianism.
The manifesto and the plea
“We speak now because silence is no longer an option. Authoritarian populists no longer operate at the margins; they sit in government across the world. Their presence is normalized, their rhetoric echoed in institutions that once guarded democracy. What once seemed unthinkable is now routine. The line between democracy and its imitation is being blurred in real time, and we are told to accept this as normal. We won’t! This Charter speaks with the clarity of those who have grown up watching freedoms recede and justice erode. We do not speak from nostalgia, but from a place deeper: this is our future being stolen, and we refuse to be its silent heirs!
We, the undersigned, speak not on behalf of any political party, state, or ideology, but as citizens of conscience compelled to respond to the profound democratic unravelling of our time. Across the world, we witness a surge of authoritarianism that threatens to undo the hard-won principles of human dignity, civic freedom, and pluralism.…”
Read the Charta 25 in your language!
The Charta 25 has been translated into various languages, including the languages spoken in the countries of nationality of the signatories, to ensure a truly democratic access to the document. Nevertheless, due to limited time and resources, we made the choice to rely on automatic translation. We cannot guarantee that translated versions faithfully interpret the wording and the meaning of the English text. We encourage readers and signatories to contact us to correct any blatant or more subtle misinterpretations and mistakes, and we thank you in advance for your valuable contributions and for devoting time to Charta 25.
The democracy manifesto
1. Democracy is not a given
Democracy is not a natural state. It is a fragile construct that must be consciously preserved and actively lived. Too many regimes invoke democratic legitimacy while violating its core: the equal right of all to take part in public affairs (UDHR Article 21.1). We reaffirm that democracy must be fought for, lived, and defended (UDHR Preamble).
2. Authoritarianism is a symptom, not a cause
Authoritarianism is not born of strength, but of unhealed wounds: economic despair, betrayal by institutions, broken promises, dislocated identities. It thrives where participation is denied (UDHR Article 21.2) and speech is manipulated (UDHR Article 19). It grows in the absence of justice (UDHR Article 8) and belonging (UDHR Article 28).
3. This is not just an authoritarian surge
The authoritarian wave is often disguised as a right-wing revival, but it is driven by a deeper crisis: the inability of liberal democracies to uphold social protections (UDHR Article 22) and human dignity (UDHR Article 1). When democracies fail to secure basic rights, including the right to security (UDHR Article 3) and social protection, reactionary forces move in to fill the void.
4. Populism forges false identities
Authoritarian populists do not offer political inclusion; they manufacture a mythical “people” based on exclusion. Their identity is forged not in solidarity, but in resentment. They crown leaders, not principles. Their movements demand loyalty, not dialogue, undermining freedom of association and participation (UDHR Articles 20.1, 21.1).
5. Populism weaponises emotion to spark division
Authoritarian movements feed off fear and anger. They distort information (UDHR Article 19), amplify outrage, and create digital tribes that substitute slogans for understanding. In their world, truth is secondary to loyalty, and education becomes a threat to obedience (UDHR Article 26.2).
6. Political parties must regain trust
Citizens lose faith when parties promise transformation but deliver compromise. When politics is seen as a game of elites, people seek alternatives, however dangerous. We call on political parties to communicate honestly, act transparently, and serve the public with integrity (UDHR Articles 21.3, 29.2).
7. Institutions must reflect the people
Institutions built to uphold justice now often obscure it. Bureaucratic complexity, corruption, and bias have alienated those they should serve. We reject a democracy that shields privilege. Public institutions must be transparent, inclusive, and accountable to the people (UDHR Articles 6, 7, 8, 10, 21.3).
8. We reject a democracy of exclusion
A system that tolerates exclusion of women, minorities, dissenters is not a democracy. We reject the misuse of nationalism, traditionalism, and cultural identity to justify oppression. Democracy is not preserved by enforcing sameness but by protecting difference (UDHR Articles 1, 2, 16.1, 21.1).
9. We stand for equal worth and shared agency
Every human being has equal worth and the right to shape the conditions of their life (UDHR Article 1). Democracy is not merely voting; it is a shared agency. We oppose systems that strip individuals of their freedom in the name of control or tradition (UDHR Articles 3, 29.1).
10. We embrace dialogue and reject violence
Democracy thrives in conflict mediated by dialogue, not in forced consensus or coercion. We reject violence (UDHR Article 3), censorship (UDHR Article 19), and ideological conformity. True democracy makes space for difference, confrontation, conversation, and growth (UDHR Article 20.1).
11. Knowledge must serve emancipation
Education is not a privilege but a right. Knowledge must liberate, not dominate. It must equip citizens to question power, understand complexity, and participate fully in public life. A democratic society invests in informed agency, not passive obedience (UDHR Articles 26.1, 26.2).
12. We reject the domination of democracy by capital
Authoritarian movements are backed by concentrated wealth. Vast financial networks fund propaganda, shape media, and manipulate public opinion. Economic inequality becomes political inequality. We reject a democracy bought by money and demand that power be accountable to all (UDHR Articles 7, 21.2, 22, 23.1).
The plea
Let this Charta stand as a testimony. We do not accept the slow decay of democracy. We do not accept fear, division, or silence. Charta 25 does not offer a program. It offers a plea: that we confront, without illusions, the forces dismantling democratic life and that we reclaim, without fear, the moral obligations of free citizens. Only together, in shared dignity and collective resolve, can we preserve the freedom we have inherited – and ensure it endures.
We affirm the possibility of a politics rooted not in force, but in compassion. Not in exclusion, but in dignity. Not in despair, but in solidarity. The future will not be written by authoritarians, unless we let them write it alone.