Global Charter for Belonging
Principles and Practices for a Global Movement
Belonging is the essential foundation of a thriving society. Today, that foundation is fracturing. From rising social isolation and inequality to declining trust in institutions, the challenges we face are rooted in our growing disconnection from one another, from the systems that shape our lives, and from the natural world.
This Charter is a call to bridge those divides. By centring belonging as a common ground for humanity, we can move from fragmentation toward shared purpose, agency, and collective dignity.
To guide this work, we align around the following principles and practices as a compass for building belonging in communities and institutions around the world.
Our Shared Principles:
- The right to belong. Every person, by simple virtue of being born, has the right to belong. Belonging is not a privilege that can be granted or withheld; it is a birthright. It manifests itself as a constellation of rights, including dignity, inclusion, and the ability to participate fully in the social, economic, and civic life of our communities.
- The four dimensions of belonging. Belonging is rooted in four essential dimensions:
- People – reciprocal and meaningful relationship
- Place – natural ecosystems and built environments where we feel at home
- Power – agency, choice and voice in shaping our own lives
- Purpose – the ability to contribute to something greater than ourselves
- Belonging strengthens society. Upholding everyone’s right to belong strengthens social trust, human dignity, and people’s ability to shape the systems that affect their lives.
- Belonging is vital for people to thrive. When we belong, we feel valued, secure, and connected – to ourselves, others, and to the natural world.
- Belonging is built through shared action. Our shared commitments and actions can strengthen belonging and help address the global challenges we face.
Our Shared Practices
Together, we can build belonging by:
Building a shared language and narrative
Developing a common vocabulary for belonging and integrating it into advocacy, media, education, and everyday conversations.
Working across sectors
Collaborating across public institutions, businesses, schools, faith communities, media, and civil society to advance belonging and measure its impact.
Accelerating what works
Connecting and learning from builders of belonging, especially those with lived experience, to:
- Identify and scale effective practices across communities and institutions
- Develop and use shared measures of belonging and social connectedness
Contributing to a growing global movement for belonging
By amplifying progress, seeking collaboration, and supporting solutions that no single actor could achieve alone.
By signing this Charter, we make a shared commitment:
- to act, adapt, learn from one another, and continually renew our dedication to a world where everyone belongs.