Human rights defenders

A human rights defender is a person that promotes and defend universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms through his or her work. Persons who use violence are excluded from this definition.

Human rights defenders often do their work in difficult conditions: in the countries where it is important that human rights violations are raised, legal structures do not usually function and impunity and insecurity are dominating. In addition to human rights violations corruption and violence are often take place on a large scale. For these reasons, human rights defenders do their work under great pressure. They are sometimes threatened because of their work; This may result to abuse and sometimes worse. Occasionally this pressure, for example elections, temporarily rise so high that the human rights defender is in great danger.

“Those who take risks need to be encouraged in their fight for the freedom of expression” (Lawyer from D.R. Congo, candidate Shelter City The Hague)

The Shelter City Network provides these human rights defenders the ability to take a breath for a short period. This allows them to temporarily escape a threatening situation and after their stay continue their work with new energy, ideas and network.