Himalayan Consensus Certified Charter

The Himalayan Consensus Certified Charter

The Himalayan Consensus advocates the critical importance of providing indigenous peoples with the sustainable means to preserve their culture, heritage, identity, and the environments in which they live through self-empowerment provided by a sustainable economic platform. The elements of a Himalayan Consensus Certified product, service or project are:

• self-sustainable economic platform
• preservation of indigenous ethnic identity, culture, traditions and heritage
• improvements to basic human needs: economic improvement and alleviation of poverty, skill transfer or development, education, medical care, and self-empowerment
• environmental harmony
• measurable and meaningful returns to the broader community

A self-sustainable product, service or project is one which, although perhaps initiated with outside funding and support, is built upon economic foundations which enable independent perpetuation and give the supplying communities the financial means to support themselves in their indigenous communities. Self-sustainability can be engineered with micro-financing and skills training to permit local people to establish their own enterprises in a manner consistent with their traditional economic, political and social structures.

A product, service or project which preserves indigenous ethnic identity, culture, traditions and heritage is one which creates vehicles to ensure the continued existence and evolution of the traditions and heritage of local communities and sustains and enhances ethnic identity and pride. The means to reach these goals often require the financing and skills training necessary for the supplying community to be self-sustainable.

A product, service or project which improves basic human needs can be one which provides means for economic improvement and alleviation of poverty, skill transfer or development, education, medical care, or self-empowerment. These goals parallel the tenets of self-sustainability and the preservation of identity, culture, tradition and heritage. Economic sustainability cannot happen without improvements in education, skills and medical conditions. Preservation of indigenous lifestyles cannot happen without these services being provided to the population in an acceptable form and in a convenient location.

A product, service or project which is harmonious with the environment is one which acknowledges the critical importance the natural environment play in the lives of many indigenous people and works in harmony with land, water, air and wildlife resources.  It is one which conserves natural resources, using them in a sustainable manner while minimizing or avoiding pollution or destruction of the physical environment and native species.

A product, service or project which gives measurable and meaningful returns to the broader community is one in which the community members give back what they can to improve and support the community in which they live. These products, services and projects assist the disadvantaged, disabled or elderly, protect and support the development of children, and help ensure that each member of the community is given the opportunity to reach his or her goals.

Members of Himalayan Consensus Certified do not source any products or services from suppliers or vendors, or use any resources, which do not comply, or which a member discovers do not comply, with The Himalayan Consensus Certified Charter. Specific examples of prohibited suppliers or vendors are those which exploit or coerce employees or children, engage in activities that threaten the health of others, or engage in any activities which are illegal under local laws. Specific examples of prohibited resources include those which damage or pollute the physical or biological environment, or which are obtained in any manner not in compliance with the spirit and principles of The Himalayan Consensus Certified Charter.

If you support and agree to adhere by The Himalayan Consensus Certified Charter, please proceed to the application section.