We live in an increasingly politicised and polarised world.
Guinness World Records (GWR) is an apolitical organisation, determined to protect the integrity of our records by remaining politically neutral.
This policy outlines our commitment to political neutrality while setting the rules for collaboration with political stakeholders, enabling record breaking for everyone, everywhere, without aligning GWR with any political messaging or agenda.
The policy applies to all GWR applicants, and partners involved in interactions with political entities, including:
While upholding political neutrality, we acknowledge the importance of constructive engagement with governments and ruling parties in countries around the world to contribute to socio-economic development where we can and deliver record breaking for everyone, everywhere.
We won’t, however, provide services or license our brand where a political message or agenda can’t be separated from our involvement in an event, record attempt, partnership and so on.
Defining and separating political and humanitarian messaging is complex and nuanced. GWR will support humanitarian messaging aligned with our values where we feel able to without violating our apolitical position.
GWR recognises the strength of feeling and reverence some people around the world have towards their leaders, of all types and in all government structures.
However, given the additional attention Heads of State draw due to their position and how they tend to personify a political ideology, to uphold this policy of political neutrality globally we can’t facilitate any record-breaking which includes a living current or former Head of State of any kind.
This includes activities such as any presentation of the record-holder certificate, and any Head of State being depicted in a record attempt.
Consideration will be given should the individual be legitimately integral to achievement of a Guinness World Records title.
Record holder certificate presentations involving other political figures will be assessed against this policy on a case-by-case basis.