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The constituent General Assembly of 10 April 2001 that met in Paris defined the fundamental principles on the basis of which the statutes of the organization have been adopted in Ispoure in 2003 by a mandate of the Quito General Assembly.

As the name clearly indicates, the "The World Mountain People Association", WMPA aims above all to act as the spokesman for mountain peoples; its approach is to group representatives of mountain organizations or communities. These representatives are convinced that, by combining with other active forces such as NGOs or mountain associations, and research scientists working with these populations, they will reach their objective of equitable and sustainable development more successfully. This is the main objective the association has set for itself, for the sake of which it will contribute to :

• Supporting the effort of mountain organizations and communities in the management of their territory and their development.
• Promoting the economic, social, cultural role of mountain regions; reinforcing and publicizing their contribution to society.
• Encouraging the exercise of solidarity between mountain peoples of the same nation, as a result of their awareness of their common destiny.
• Helping mountain communities obtain the implementation of a legitimate national solidarity and recognition of their identity and their specificity.
• Encouraging the international community to take better account of the interests of mountain populations, the role they play in maintaining these territories and managing natural resources, and the particular difficulties they encounter in their development.
• Informing national and international public opinion about the real situation of these populations and territories and changing the image, generally very limited, that they may have.

Based on the observations that in 120 countries in the world, mountain populations are confronted today with challenges related to globalization, WMPA's resolve is to meet these difficult challenges with encounters, exchanges and cooperation. The constitution of a community sharing the same objectives and pooling its resources should allow controlled development - very different from imposed models - that is respectful of their human, cultural and geographic diversity and their different identities. From this action undertaken in common should come real awareness of a universal mountain identity.

The statutes adopted by WMPA illustrate its ambition to endeavor in every way to ensure that this position is heard, recognized, extended and accepted as legitimate. It goes much further than the simple demanding attitude of a special interest group.