News
December 6, 2024
Global solidarity in the protection landscape
From 8 to 11 October, Tbilisi, Georgia became a hub for the 2024 Shelter City Global Partners’ meeting, where partners, collaborators, and human rights defenders gathered to reflect, rest, and reinforce their commitment to providing safe spaces for human rights defenders at risk.
The meeting, which brought together 12 Shelter Cities from Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, fostered dialogue on the achievements, challenges, and future collaborations within the network and underscored the importance of collaborative relationships in the protection landscape. Throughout the week, participants shared their progress and challenges from the year, and gained inspiration to continue supporting human rights defenders at risk regionally and globally. Partners and participants exchanged best practices on psychosocial support, security training, and advocacy strategies tailored to human rights defenders’ unique contexts.
“The discussions on strengthening collaborative efforts in supporting human rights defenders were particularly insightful, and I found the exchange of best practices to be highly beneficial. It was encouraging to see the collective commitment to improving the impact of [human rights defenders’] work globally.”
Key themes of the meeting were sustainability, solidarity, and wellbeing. As the network expands, partners are collectively exploring ways to strengthen their financial and operational foundations, while continue to focus on the core of the work – supporting human rights defenders at risk. Discussions centered on building local partnerships, diversifying funding sources, and fostering community engagement. Representatives from Shelter Cities shared hopeful stories of rapid growth and impact, demonstrating the movement’s adaptability to different cultural and political environments. Additionally, the growth of the network is complemented by the current development of more advanced tools introduced during the meeting that would allow partners to increase collaboration, as well as open access to a wider range of support for human rights defenders.
“The best word to describe my learning from this meeting is “inspiration”. The passion and devotion that the coordinators of Shelter Cities around the world share, is contagious. I understand now better what the challenges for certain Shelter Cities are.”
The meeting also celebrated the courage and resilience of human rights defenders. Testimonials from former Shelter City guests shed light on the profound difference temporary relocation has made in their lives. Czarina, Shelter City alumna from 2020, emphasized the importance of an international community like Shelter City for human rights defenders amidst changing political landscapes worldwide. For many, their time at Shelter City has offered them a chance to recharge and strategize for future advocacy efforts. Their stories served as a powerful reminder of the movement’s mission and the need for global solidarity.
“When there is oppression, resistance is our right. As we continue to push back, this is where the international community comes in … While our voices continue to be suppressed, you are our echo.”
With renewed energy and a shared vision for the future, we look forward to the next opportunity for the global network to gather, reconnect, and strengthen our shared mission of standing side by side with human rights defenders.
We thank all the partners in the global network of Shelter City and other participants for their valuable contributions during this meeting.