# Peaceful Commerce

> Peaceful Commerce is the first certification label showing that a company does not want to profit from violence. It is the ultimate ESG standard complementing B Corp and other ethical business certifications for a civilian economy free of violence.

## About Peaceful Commerce

Companies often highlight environmental and social commitments, but a massive blind spot remains: the indirect contribution to armed conflicts. Peaceful Commerce aims to rid civilian commerce of military influence by making visible, verifiable, and progressively "standard" the commitment of companies not to supply goods or services to armed groups.

### Core Philosophy: Flipping the Script
Historically, global efforts focused on stopping money from flowing into armed conflicts. Peaceful Commerce focuses on **physical resources**. If an armed group has billions of dollars but cannot buy a single screw, IT system, or logistical service, they cannot wage war.

## Regulatory Definitions

### Definition of an Armed Group (Prohibited Entity)
Any organization, state or non-state, structured and equipped for the use of lethal force for combat, national defense, territorial conquest, or insurgency.
*Examples:* Regular armed forces, national guards, militias, paramilitary groups, insurgent/terrorist groups, Private Military Companies, national/foreign intelligence agencies (e.g., CIA), state-sanctioned hacker groups, and state propaganda divisions.
**Rule:** No sale of goods or services is authorized to these entities, regardless of the product's nature (lethal or non-lethal).

### Definition of Civil Police (Authorized Exception)
A group whose exclusive purpose is the enforcement of common law and the protection of citizens, without a mandate for territorial defense or external force projection. Must meet 5 conditions:
1. Territorial limitation
2. Nature of the mandate (no mixed/militarized mandates)
3. Hierarchical independence (under civil authority)
4. Absence of military privileges
5. Respect for Human Rights
*Note:* Internal Affairs & Federal Police (like the FBI) are generally allowed.

### Special Cases & Grey Zones
*   **Private Security Companies (PSCs) & Defensive Cybersecurity:** Allowed, but must be certified at Level 2 or higher due to the risk of acting as proxies.
*   **UN Peacekeeping:** Currently prohibited (militarily structured), but officially considered a "grey zone" pending review by the future advisory board.
*   **Open Source Software:** Prohibited. Ethical source software is allowed.

## Guiding Principles (The "Litmus Tests")
To determine if an entity is prohibited or authorized:
1.  **The "Wartime Target" Test:** Would it be a strategic military target for an invading enemy? (No = likely civil).
2.  **The "Transplant & Occupy" Test:** Could it function normally under occupation or be transplanted to another nation? (Yes = likely civil).
3.  **The "Stateless World" Test:** If borders disappeared, would it still have a reason to exist? (Yes = likely civil).
4.  **The "Loyalty & Identity" Test:** Does it pledge exclusive loyalty to a nation/ideology to justify force against "others"? (Yes = prohibited military/armed group).

## Anti-Circumvention & Shell Company Policy
To prevent companies from using shell corporations or "pass-through" distributors to bypass Level 3 requirements, we employ a dynamic, risk-based auditing framework. Key rules include:
*   **Corporate Groups:** A parent company, its subsidiaries, and affiliates are treated as a single entity.
*   **Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBO):** Tracked to prevent circular selling.
*   **Product Transformation:** Clients must significantly transform, integrate, or consume the product to count as a valid Level 3 flowdown step.
*   **Proof of Real Operations:** Nodes in a Level 3 supply chain must prove they are real businesses (physical offices, employees, diverse clients).
*   **Captive Entities:** Clients deriving most revenue from your products or selling exclusively to one buyer are treated as extensions of your company, not independent clients.
*   **Mandatory Audit Prerequisite:** Level 3 requires passing a Level 2 audit first to weed out shell companies.
*   **Verified End-of-Life:** Discarded/recycled products must be verifiably destroyed or processed by certified partners.
*   **Handling Level 4 Products:** Can only be sold to Level 2+ certified companies. Level 4 status is strictly contagious to any integrated systems.

## Certification Framework
*   **Level 1 (Self-Declaration):** An engagement via a sworn self-declaration. *(Currently the only active level)*
*   **Level 2 (Third-Party Audit):** An independent audit to validate the commitment. *(Coming Soon)*
*   **Level 3 (Client Flowdown):** Working only with clients who are themselves certified, tracked via a "Depth Gauge System". *(Coming Soon)*
*   **Level 4 (Infinite Flowdown):** Unlimited downstream compliance ensuring products never reach armed groups. *(Coming Soon)*

## Frequently Asked Questions (Key Points)
*   **Scope:** Applies to ALL goods and services (lethal or non-lethal, raw materials, IT, catering, etc.). Focus is on the end-user.
*   **Indirect Sales:** Levels 1 & 2 restrict direct sales. Level 3 restricts direct clients. Level 4 restricts the entire downstream chain infinitely.
*   **Entity Type:** Applies exclusively to moral persons (legal entities/businesses), not physical persons acting in a private capacity.
*   **Evolution:** The standard is a living framework that will adapt to close loopholes and address new edge cases.

## Level 1 Certification Process & The Norm (v1.1)
To achieve Level 1 certification, companies must complete the physical form found at `/form_1_v1.1.html`. 
*   **Pioneer Status:** Companies signing before July 1, 2026, receive the exclusive "Pioneer" status in perpetuity.
*   **Cost:** The annual renewal fee for Pioneers is fixed at 1 CHF (or 1 EUR). Payment can be made via bank transfer or by physically taping a 1 Fr. (or 1 EUR) coin to the form.
*   **Submission:** The form must be printed, signed, and mailed via postal service to the Peaceful Commerce headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
*   **Legal Commitments:** The certified entity swears it does not sell to armed groups (including via subsidiaries). The badge must be used without visual alteration and must include a click-through link to the company's public profile on the Peaceful Commerce registry. The agreement is governed by Swiss law.

## Organization & Contact
Peaceful Commerce is currently owned and operated by Stefan ANTUN as a sole proprietorship based in Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland. An advisory board and formal governing body are currently being formed.
*   **Contact:** stefan@peacefulcommerce.org
*   **Founder:** Stefan ANTUN
*   **Address:** Chemin de la Charrue 3, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland

## Site Structure and Links

### Homepages
- [English Homepage](https://www.peacefulcommerce.org/)
- [French Homepage](https://www.peacefulcommerce.org/fr/)
- [German Homepage](https://www.peacefulcommerce.org/de/)

### Official Norms & Certification Forms (v1.1)
- [English Level 1 Form v1.1](https://www.peacefulcommerce.org/form_1_v1.1.html)
- [French Level 1 Form v1.1](https://www.peacefulcommerce.org/fr/form_1_v1.1.html)
- [German Level 1 Form v1.1](https://www.peacefulcommerce.org/de/form_1_v1.1.html)

### Legacy Forms (v1.0)
- [French Level 1 Form v1.0](https://www.peacefulcommerce.org/fr/form_1_v1.0.html)
- [German Level 1 Form v1.0](https://www.peacefulcommerce.org/de/form_1_v1.0.html)