The Organization for Nonviolent Movements (ONM) envisions a world where nonviolent action is recognized, resourced, and practiced as a powerful force for justice and democracy. We do not reject violence on moral grounds alone; rather, we believe people turn to violence because they have not yet discovered the effectiveness of nonviolent struggle. Our mission is to understand how nonviolent means of resistance work, how they spread, and how their impacts can transform societies.
In this vision, communities everywhere—whether under authoritarian rule, in fragile democracies, or facing corruption—can organize collectively to confront injustice without arms. Civil resistance becomes mainstream: embedded in education, policy, and security frameworks; reflected in national defense strategies; and valued within international relations. Activists are equipped with institutional support, formal training, and networks that strengthen their agency, rather than leaving their courage overlooked or unsupported.
We imagine a Europe that goes beyond rhetoric, providing concrete resources and policy frameworks to expand civic space and reduce reliance on violent alternatives. In such a future, societies are literate in the history and strategy of civil resistance, leading to more inclusive, effective, and enduring mobilizations for human rights.
ONM’s vision rests on four pillars:
- Networked Movements are connected to knowledge and transnational solidarity.
- Mainstreamed Nonviolent Strategy as a pillar of domestic and foreign policy.
- Resilient Democracies fortified by active, nonviolent citizen engagement.
- A Learned Society & Platform for Action, where research, policy, and movements converge.
Through humility, clarity, and collaboration, ONM works to support civil resistance as an alternative path to democratic transformation.