Human rights defenders are anyone who peacefully promotes freedom, justice and peace in their country or community. Many of them are threatened because of their efforts. They face harassment, slander or even physical violence. Shelter City firmly believes that they should be able to count on global solidarity.
Each Shelter City comprises a local network of organizations and citizens that offer human rights defenders a safe and inspiring stay for three months. Here they can rest, engage with local allies, develop their skills and acquire new knowledge and experiences. By offering a broad range of expertise, we are able to tailor our support to each defender’s specific needs.
Shelter City is a growing movement of cities, organizations, including embassies, universities and high schools, and citizens. Currently, there are 21 Shelter Cities in the Netherlands, Georgia, Tanzania, Benin, Costa Rica, Nepal, and the United Kingdom.
We stand side by side with human rights defenders at risk and our movement members, and they stand side by side with each other. The mission of one of us is the mission of all of us.
Human rights defenders at risk and our movement members can rely on us and vice versa. We aim to offer spaces that are safe in every sense of the word.
Our wide variety of movement members enables tailormade support to human rights defenders at risk from all kinds of communities. The combination of all our different backgrounds makes us strong and creates a welcoming environment for anyone.
Shelter City was founded in 2012 by Justice & Peace Netherlands as a concrete and accessible way to support human rights defenders at risk.
Currently, there are a total of 24 local Shelter Cities around the world – 14 Shelter Cities in the Netherlands, and 10 Shelter Cities in Georgia, Tanzania, Benin, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom. To date, Shelter City has supported over 900 human rights defenders from all over the world.
We believe that supporting and protecting local and grassroots human rights defenders is the most effective way to promote universal human rights on a global scale and form just and peaceful societies. Join our growing movement and support human rights defenders at risk.