Apply for the Shelter City Spring 2027 Programme by Justice & Peace Netherlands. Human rights defenders at risk can receive three months of temporary protection, tailored support, and networking in the Netherlands. Deadline: 2 August 2026.
Justice & Peace Netherlands has officially opened applications for the Shelter City Spring 2027 Programme, offering human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk the opportunity to spend three months in the Netherlands in a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment.
The application deadline is 2 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST (Central European Summer Time).
The internationally recognized Shelter City initiative provides temporary relocation for human rights defenders facing threats because of their peaceful activism. During the programme, participants receive tailored support, strengthen their professional networks, and develop new strategies to continue advancing human rights in their home countries.
With 14 Dutch cities participating in the Spring 2027 cycle, the programme represents one of Europe’s leading temporary protection initiatives for frontline human rights advocates.
About the Shelter City Programme
Shelter City is coordinated by Justice & Peace Netherlands and is designed to offer temporary safety and capacity-building opportunities to human rights defenders who are working under difficult or dangerous conditions.
Rather than serving as a permanent relocation initiative, Shelter City provides participants with a temporary period of rest, reflection, professional development, and international networking before they safely return home to continue their important work.
The programme recognizes that human rights defenders often operate under immense pressure, including intimidation, harassment, surveillance, threats, arbitrary detention, or violence. By offering a secure environment, Shelter City enables participants to recover, strengthen their resilience, and enhance the effectiveness of their advocacy.
Programme Duration
The Spring 2027 Shelter City Programme will run from:
March to May 2027
Participants will stay in one of 14 participating cities across the Netherlands for approximately three months.
What Participants Receive
Successful applicants will benefit from a comprehensive support programme designed around their individual needs and professional goals.
Key benefits include:
- A temporary safe place to live and work
- A supportive and inspiring environment
- Tailor-made professional support
- Opportunities to engage with Dutch and international human rights networks
- Access to new knowledge, skills, and advocacy tools
- Time to rest, recover, and strengthen personal wellbeing
- Networking with fellow human rights defenders and civil society organizations
- Opportunities to build long-term international partnerships
The programme is structured to ensure participants return home better equipped—both professionally and personally—to continue defending human rights in their own communities.
Purpose of the Programme
Shelter City seeks to strengthen the long-term impact of human rights defenders by providing temporary protection without removing them permanently from their local contexts.
During their stay, participants are encouraged to:
- Reflect on their work and future strategies
- Build new international partnerships
- Expand professional knowledge
- Strengthen advocacy skills
- Develop new tools for promoting and protecting human rights
- Restore energy and resilience after working in high-risk environments
At the conclusion of the programme, participants are expected to return to their home countries with renewed confidence, stronger international networks, and practical approaches that enhance their ongoing human rights work.
Who Should Apply?
The programme is intended for human rights defenders at risk who require temporary relocation due to challenges associated with their peaceful human rights activities.
Applicants should be actively engaged in promoting or defending human rights and demonstrate that participation in Shelter City would contribute meaningfully to both their personal safety and the effectiveness of their future work.
Because Shelter City focuses on temporary protection and capacity strengthening, applicants should also intend to return to their home countries after completing the programme.
Why the Shelter City Programme Matters
Human rights defenders play a critical role in promoting justice, accountability, equality, and democratic values worldwide. However, many operate in environments where their work exposes them to significant personal risks.
Shelter City addresses these challenges by creating temporary spaces where defenders can step away from immediate pressures, access specialized support, and connect with an international community committed to protecting civic space and human rights.
The programme has become an important model for international solidarity, enabling defenders to continue their work more effectively while reducing the long-term impact of stress and insecurity.
Participating Cities
For the Spring 2027 programme, 14 cities across the Netherlands will host participants. Each city provides a welcoming environment where human rights defenders can engage with local organizations, academic institutions, civil society actors, and advocacy networks while benefiting from a secure temporary residence.
Application Deadline
Applications for the Spring 2027 Shelter City Programme must be submitted no later than:
2 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST (Central European Summer Time).
Late applications are unlikely to be considered, so interested human rights defenders are encouraged to apply well before the deadline.
Final Thoughts
The Shelter City Programme continues to provide a vital lifeline for human rights defenders working under difficult conditions around the world. By combining temporary protection, professional development, and international networking, the initiative helps participants return home with renewed resilience, practical tools, and stronger global connections.
For defenders committed to advancing human rights despite significant risks, the Spring 2027 programme offers an invaluable opportunity to recharge, strengthen their advocacy, and continue making a lasting impact in their communities.
