News
August 25, 2025
Celebrating 10 years of Shelter City Nijmegen
A decade of standing side by side with human rights defenders On June 13, Shelter City Nijmegen convened former and current participants, partners, and local…
What we offer for human rights defenders at risk
What does Shelter City do?
Shelter City provides human rights defenders at risk a temporary place for three months where they are safe, can rely on solidarity and receive support tailored to their needs. We enable them to re-energize, engage with allies and develop their skills, knowledge and resilience.
Where is Shelter City located?
Each country that Shelter City is located has its own application process. There are currently 14 Shelter Cities in the Netherlands. The Netherlands provides safe spaces to human rights defenders from all around the world two times per year. There are two open calls for applications for Shelter City in the Netherlands annually – one published around March/April for the September-December period, and one published in August/September for the April-July period.
There are also 10 international Shelter Cities in Georgia, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Benin, the United Kingdom, Nepal, France, and Italy. To find out more about their application processes, visit their Shelter City pages.
- Safe space for three months
- A space to rest and re-energize
- Tailormade support
- Security training
- Wellbeing activities
- Skills and knowledge development
- The opportunity to network with allies
What does Shelter City do?
Shelter City provides human rights defenders at risk a temporary place for three months where they are safe, can rely on solidarity and receive support tailored to their needs. We enable them to re-energize, engage with allies and develop their skills, knowledge and resilience.
Where is Shelter City located?
Each country that Shelter City is located has its own application process. There are currently 14 Shelter Cities in the Netherlands. The Netherlands provides safe spaces to human rights defenders from all around the world two times per year. There are two open calls for applications for Shelter City in the Netherlands annually – one published around March/April for the September-December period, and one published in August/September for the April-July period.
There are also 10 international Shelter Cities in Georgia, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Benin, the United Kingdom, Nepal, France, and Italy. To find out more about their application processes, visit their Shelter City pages.
- Safe space for three months
- A space to rest and re-energize
- Tailormade support
- Security training
- Wellbeing activities
- Skills and knowledge development
- The opportunity to network with allies
News
July 20, 2025
Shelter City PaÃses Bajos: Convocatoria de solicitudes
Solicitudes abiertas Justice & Peace Netherlands abre nuevamente las postulaciones al programa Shelter City PaÃses Bajos. La fecha lÃmite para los solicitudes es el 10 de…
News
July 20, 2025
Shelter City Pays-Bas: Appel à candidatures
Shelter City Pays-Bas 2026 Justice & Peace Netherlands lance un nouvel appel aux défenseurs des droits humains en danger pour participer à Shelter City Pays-Bas.…
News
July 20, 2025
Shelter City Netherlands: Call for applications
Applications are now open Justice & Peace Netherlands is launching a new call for applications for human rights defenders at risk to participate in Shelter…
News
May 28, 2025
Human Library: Sharing International Stories 2nd Edition
In collaboration with Voorlichting COC Haaglanden and COC Haaglanden, we hosted a storytelling event focused on LGBTIQ+ rights defenders worldwide.
News
April 10, 2025
The city of Amstelveen joins Shelter City to support human rights lawyers
The city of Amstelveen joins the global movement of Shelter City in its mission of providing safe and inspiring spaces for human rights defenders at…
News
March 26, 2025
Shelter City Costa Rica abre su periodo de convocatoria – 2025
La convocatoria de candidaturas para Shelter City Costa Rica ya está abierta. Puede completar su solicitud hasta el dÃa 15 de abril del 2025 a…
News
February 18, 2025
A tribute to Iyad Haddad, Palestinian human rights defender
Shelter City mourns the passing of Iyad Haddad, a Palestinian human rights defender and former guest of Shelter City The Hague.
News
February 13, 2025
Shelter City York: Guidelines for Universities Hosting Human Rights Defenders
Shelter City York has launched the Guidelines for Universities Hosting Human Rights Defenders.
News
January 21, 2025
Shelter City York: Nominations for Fellowships
University of York's Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) is currently accepting nominations for human rights defenders in need of a temporary relocation to a…
News
December 6, 2024
Global solidarity in the protection landscape
From 8 to 11 October, partners gathered in Georgia to reflect, rest, and reinforce their commitment to providing safe spaces for human rights defenders at…
News
October 21, 2024
Strengthening collaboration in the Netherlands
On 26 September, 12 Shelter Cities from across the Netherlands gathered to exchange insights and strengthen collective efforts in supporting human rights defenders at risk.
News
September 30, 2024
Luis, awarded The Albie for his journalism
On 26 September, Luis Carlos DÃaz, journalist and human rights defender from Venezuela was awarded The Albie: Justice for Journalists Award.
News
September 20, 2024
Shelter City Costa Rica abre su periodo de convocatoria – octubre 2024
La convocatoria de candidaturas para Shelter City Costa Rica ya está abierta. Puede completar su solicitud hasta el 20 de octubre de 2024 a las…
News
August 1, 2024
Shelter City Netherlands: Call for applications
Justice & Peace Netherlands is launching a new call for applications for human rights defenders at risk to participate in Shelter City Netherlands. The deadline…
News
August 1, 2024
Shelter City Pays-Bas: Appel à candidatures
Justice & Peace Netherlands lance un nouvel appel aux défenseurs des droits humains en danger pour participer à Shelter City Pays-Bas. La date limite de…
News
August 1, 2024
Shelter City PaÃses Bajos: Convocatoria de solicitudes
Justice & Peace Netherlands abre nuevamente las candidaturas al programa Shelter City PaÃses Bajos. La fecha lÃmite para los solicitudes es el 30 de agosto…
News
July 16, 2024
Celebrating 5 years of Shelter City Rotterdam
On 3 June, Shelter City Rotterdam celebrated its fifth anniversary of hosting and supporting human rights defenders at risk with Shelter City guests, partners, and…
Events
6 Jul 2024
Shelter City Nijmegen: Walk in solidarity with human rights defenders
Support Shelter City Nijmegen and participate in the 5th edition of the Solidarity Walk at Land van Ooij.
Events
15 May 2024
Human Library: Sharing International Stories
Shelter City The Hague invites you to listen to the stories of four LGBTIQ+ rights defenders in honour of Pride The Hague.