Shelter Cities

The Shelter City network consists of a growing number of cities around the world that offer a safe space to human rights defenders at risk.

Since the establishment of the first Shelter City in 2012 in The Hague, the initiative has been expanded to a network of twelve cities in the Netherlands. Since 2016, a growing number of cities outside the Netherlands have provided a temporary safe haven for human rights defenders, providing them with the valuable tools and resources to continue their important work safely and effectively.

From Tbilisi to Dar es Salaam and beyond, Shelter City is growing internationally to reach and help human rights defenders around the world. The initiative works closely with local governments and embassies, local civil society organisations, universities and educational institutions, and local citizens in the cities. By expanding the Shelter City Network, human rights defenders will be able to safely continue protecting the rights of more people in more places.

Joining the Shelter City Network

Shelter City is currently expanding, with new international Shelter Cities to be announced in the coming months. Do you want to know how your city can become a Shelter City? Contact us via info@sheltercity.nl, follow the Shelter City Facebook page or sign up for the Justice and Peace e-newsletter .