DEFENS (Defending Everyone's Freedom and Ethics from Nationalism and Socialism) is a citizens' organization dedicated to defending individual liberties, human and property rights, market economy and open society. We support the right of individuals to make decisions for themselves. We oppose the centralization of power, nationalism and socialism, and are strictly against all forms of violence. DEFENS is politically and religiously non-aligned, and is part of an international network.
Man is, by nature, a free and independent being. Freedom means a right to make decisions concerning your own life yourself, without coercion. A market society is a prime prerequisite of a free society, because it is an economic system founded on reciprocal trade and voluntary co-operation.
DEFENS defends the right to free trade and interaction and opposes all organizations dedicated to suppressing individual liberties. We hold that neo-Communist opposition to market economy is founded on false assumptions about the state of the world, and realizing their goals would not lead to the desired results. The restriction of trade by taxes and tolls causes expenses, which are ultimately paid by the citizen. These mercantilist, and in some cases even feudal, traditions should not be reinforced but minimised and eventually abolished.
DEFENS is especially concerned for developing countries still on the road of partial or complete socialism, where economic activity is restricted by arbitrary sanctions, and the protection of private property is not assured. This makes the people dependent on the government and prevents them from seeking prosperity themselves. Poverty will not be eradicated from the world by controlling the economy, but by protecting property rights and freeing markets.
DEFENS also urges caution over the centralization of political power. Supernational decision-making is a threat to the ordinary citizen's independence and increases the power of the political elite. In a free world, decision-making powers should be vested closer to the people whom the decisions concern. Instead of politics, a citizen society, voluntary associations, families and individual liberties should be upheld. This requires the protection of private property, which enables individual financial autonomy and is thus a necessary prerequisite of a market economy.