Let’s make visible what often goes unnoticed in everyday life: people treating one another with respect, consideration and a sense of connection. We believe these encounters reveal something that already holds our society together – and something we can strengthen.
As a society, we face complex challenges – and we need different opinions, perspectives and approaches to meet them. Friction and disagreement are part of that. What matters is not that we always agree, but how we treat one another when we don’t.
And that “how” cannot be taken for granted. Many people experience public debate as increasingly harsh and confrontational. Studies point to growing pressure on social cohesion, while also showing how important common ground and mutual trust are for keeping conversations open (Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2023; More in Common, 2025).
When conflict, polarisation and division receive so much attention, it is easy to lose sight of what is also happening every day: people listen to one another, lend a hand, show consideration and act with respect – even when they think, live or see the world differently.
Much of this happens quietly. It is there, but often visible only for a moment.
This is where respactivist comes in.
Grounded in the values of liberal societies, our aim is not to erase differences or create artificial agreement. We want to make visible – and strengthen – what allows people to stay connected despite those differences.
What guides us:
People are fundamentally good – We are not naive about the world. But we choose to approach people as fellow human beings, starting from the belief that most of us fundamentally want to do the right thing.
Differences can remain – Respect does not mean harmony or agreement. People can think, live and choose very differently – and still treat one another with respect.
Visibility shapes perception – What we notice influences what we believe to be normal. That is why we deliberately draw attention to respectful behaviour that is already part of everyday life, but often receives little attention.
It starts with us – The way we live together as a society is not something abstract. Each of us shapes it through the way we act, speak and engage with others – every day.
Hope creates energy for change – Taking problems seriously and recognising what is already working are not contradictions. We believe that seeing our own ability to make a difference can encourage people to take action themselves.
What?
So where do we start?
We don’t start with a definition of respect. We start by observing people.
We pay attention when people notice one another, listen, show consideration, lend a hand – and meet one another as fellow human beings.
We call these moments RespectMoments.
respactivist collects, shares and creates RespectMoments – on the streets, online, through public actions, at RespectPlaces and through Respect Partnerships. We make them visible, invite others to look more closely and create opportunities for people to contribute their own stories and experiences.
Step by step, this creates greater visibility for what is already happening around us – and a growing movement of people who not only notice respectful behaviour, but actively shape it and carry it forward.
RespectMoments can be shared using #respactivist #RespectMoment #WeAreAllChange.
What is behind our logo?
The flag – deliberately drawn with a playful feel – stands for connection and belonging. It brings people together, creates a sense of identity and represents the idea of “showing your colours”. At the same time, we know that flags can also draw boundaries and exclude. That is why the organic circle matters. It opens up the flag, takes away some of its divisive character and brings the focus back to what matters most to us: individual people and their stories.
This is how we want to contribute to stronger social cohesion: by making respect visible in everyday life and enabling more and more people to recognise it, shape it and carry it forward.
