Preamble

The Southern Mongolian Democratic Party (SMDP) is established in recognition of the universal principles of human dignity, democratic participation, and the rights of indigenous peoples.

We affirm that the survival and continuity of an indigenous people depend upon the protection of language, culture, land, and collective resources as an indivisible whole, safeguarded through lawful institutions and peaceful political participation.

We further affirm that the erosion of indigenous language, the disruption of cultural transmission, and the loss of ancestral land and resources constitute interconnected threats to cultural survival and human dignity.

This Charter is grounded in international human rights law, democratic principles, and indigenous rights frameworks. It sets forth the foundational commitments that guide the Party’s purpose, conduct, and long-term political engagement.

Article I — Name and Legal Nature

1. The name of the organization is the Southern Mongolian Democratic Party (SMDP).
2. SMDP is a democratic political party committed to peaceful political participation.
3. The Party is non-violent, non-extremist, and non-exclusionary in nature.
4. SMDP does not claim governmental authority, does not administer territory, and does not exercise coercive power.

Article II — Purpose and Guiding Principles

1. The purpose of SMDP is to promote democratic participation, human dignity, and the protection of fundamental rights through lawful and peaceful means.
2. The Party affirms democracy and constitutional governance; the rule of law and equality before the law; and universal human rights without discrimination.
3. SMDP rejects hatred, racism, and supremacist ideologies in all forms.

Article III — Commitment to Non-Violence and the Rule of Law

1. SMDP pursues its objectives exclusively through peaceful, lawful, and democratic processes.
2. The Party rejects violence, armed struggle, coercion, and extra-legal political action.
3. SMDP affirms the rule of law, due process, and independent institutions as essential foundations of legitimate governance.

Article IV — Indigenous Language, Culture, and Cultural Survival

1. SMDP recognizes the Southern Mongolian people as an indigenous community with a distinct linguistic, cultural, and historical identity.
2. The Party affirms that indigenous language is the primary foundation of cultural survival, collective identity, and intergenerational continuity. The erosion or loss of language constitutes a direct threat to the existence of an indigenous people.
3. SMDP supports the protection, revitalization, and public use of indigenous languages in education, cultural life, and intergenerational transmission.
4. The Party affirms that linguistic rights are substantive collective rights, essential to human dignity, cultural continuity, and self-determined development.
5. SMDP opposes all forms of forced, systemic, or structural assimilation that suppress indigenous language use, marginalize cultural expression, or accelerate cultural disappearance.
6. The Party supports indigenous-led cultural and educational initiatives that enable future generations to live, learn, and participate in public life through their own language, while engaging openly with the modern world.

Article V — Land, Resources, and Collective Rights

1. SMDP affirms that land, grasslands, and natural resources constitute the material and cultural foundations of indigenous life.
2. The Party supports the recognition of collective indigenous rights to land and natural resources, consistent with international human rights and indigenous rights standards.
3. SMDP advocates community-based, sustainable stewardship that integrates traditional ecological knowledge with responsible governance.
4. The Party opposes displacement, ecological degradation, and extractive practices that undermine cultural survival, environmental integrity, and community consent.

Article VI — Political Participation and Democratic Process

1. SMDP affirms political participation as a fundamental democratic right.
2. The Party exists to translate social, cultural, and human rights concerns into institutional and policy-oriented political engagement.
3. SMDP respects pluralism, dialogue, and democratic processes, and does not impose predetermined political outcomes.
4. The Party does not claim exclusive representation of any people or constituency.

Article VII — Organizational Principles

1. SMDP operates according to principles of transparency, accountability, and internal democratic practice.
2. Organizational structures shall serve the principles set forth in this Charter and remain subordinate to its commitments.
3. The Party maintains a clear distinction between political advocacy, civil society initiatives, and non-partisan platforms.

Article VIII — Amendment and Authority

1. This Charter may be amended through internal democratic procedures consistent with its principles.
2. No amendment may contravene commitments to democracy, non-violence, human rights, or the protection of indigenous peoples.
3. The English version of this Charter is the authoritative reference.

Citation: https://smdp-democracy.org/charter.html