Principles
1. OPEN AND VOLUNTARY MEMBERSHIP
Las cooperativas son organizaciones voluntarias, abiertas a todas las personas capaces de utilizar sus servicios y dispuestas a aceptar las responsabilidades de ser socio, sin discriminación de sexo, social, racial, política o religiosa.
2. DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF THE MEMBERS
Cooperatives are organizations democratically managed by members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. The men and women chosen to represent and manage cooperatives are responsible to the members. In first-grade cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and cooperatives of other degrees are also organized democratically.
3. ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS
Members contribute equitably to the capital of their cooperatives and manage it democratically. At least part of that capital is normally the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses to all or any of the following purposes: the development of their cooperative, establishment of reserves, the benefit of members based on their cooperative activity, training of members and other activities approved by themselves.
4. AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE
Cooperative societies are autonomous self-help organizations, managed by their members. If they sign agreements with other organizations, including governments, or if they raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
5. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION
Cooperatives provide education and training to members, elected representatives, managers and employees so that they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, especially young people and opinion leaders, of the nature and benefits of cooperation.
6. COOPERATION BETWEEN COOPERATIVES
Cooperatives serve their members as effectively as possible and strengthen the cooperative movement, working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
7. COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
Cooperatives work to achieve the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
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