Charter for Compassion
Tax Exempt 501(c) (3)
Version 1.00
The Charter for Compassion is a global movement that invites people of every faith, and of no faith, to make compassion the center of their religious, ethical, and civic life. It began as a short written statement built on the Golden Rule, the principle found in nearly every tradition that we should treat others as we wish to be treated. Today it has grown into an international network of individuals, congregations, schools, businesses, and whole cities working to put that principle into daily practice. Handshake4Peace introduces the Charter here because its work and ours share the same heart: faith communities serving their neighbors, and peace built one relationship at a time. Handshake4Peace is not affiliated with the Charter for Compassion; this page is offered as an introduction and an invitation.
The Charter was the vision of British religious historian Karen Armstrong, who used her 2008 TED Prize wish to call for a shared charter of compassion. Its text was drafted through an open online process in which people from more than 100 countries contributed ideas, and was then finalized by a multi-faith, multi-national Council of Conscience. The Charter was launched on November 12, 2009, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, with launch events around the world that same day. Early endorsers included the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the Charter has since been endorsed by more than two million people and translated into more than 30 languages. Charter for Compassion International became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2014 and is also a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative.
VISION
A world in which every person, community, and institution lives by compassion, treating all others with the care and dignity they would want for themselves.
Mission
To turn the principles of the Charter into concrete action by connecting leaders and organizers across the world, sharing tools and stories, and helping communities of every kind become places where compassion shapes how people live, serve, and govern.
The Charter in Brief
The Charter is a short statement that calls on everyone, and especially religious communities, to:
Put the Golden Rule at the center of morality and religion, and refuse to use faith to justify hatred, violence, or disrespect toward others.Honor the dignity of every human being, without exception, including those we consider strangers or enemies.Teach accurate and respectful knowledge of other religions, cultures, and traditions.Encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity.Cultivate an informed empathy for the suffering of all people.We encourage every reader to read the full text of the Charter, in their own language, on the official website: charterforcompassion.org.
Put the Golden Rule at the center of morality and religion, and refuse to use faith to justify hatred, violence, or disrespect toward others.Honor the dignity of every human being, without exception, including those we consider strangers or enemies.Teach accurate and respectful knowledge of other religions, cultures, and traditions.Encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity.Cultivate an informed empathy for the suffering of all people.We encourage every reader to read the full text of the Charter, in their own language, on the official website: charterforcompassion.org.
We promote empathy, peace, social justice, environmental sustainability, and intercultural understanding in a world riddled in turmoil. By encouraging compassionate action the Charter for Compassion aims to create compassionate communities where individuals can connect, collaborate, and support each other in their efforts to create a more compassionate world. These communities foster a sense of belonging and provide platforms for sharing ideas, resources, and initiatives related to compassion.
charterforcompassion.org is your compassion landing pad. Consider it to be a “wikipedia” of the compassion movement. It contains an encyclopedia of information about compassion, its history and how it relates to the fields in which we work. It offers tools for grassroots organizing of compassionate communities, approaches to how we connect our passions through storytelling and most importantly, how we find others of a similar mind so we might strengthen our resolve to build a more just and equitable world.