[Shelter City 2025] Call for applications for Asser Institute visiting research fellowship

Justice & Peace Netherlands has a new call for applications for at risk human rights defenders to participate in its Shelter City programme. The Hague-based Asser Institute is hosting one Shelter City Fellow per year. The deadline for applications is 30 August 2024 at 23:59 CEST (Central European Summer Time).

Many human rights defenders, people who peacefully promote freedom, justice and peace, are threatened. Worldwide, human rights defenders increasingly face harassment, slander or even physical violence.

Shelter City, a global movement of cities, organisations and people who stand side by side with human rights defenders at risk. Shelter City provides temporary safe and inspiring spaces for human rights defenders at risk where they re-energise, receive tailormade support and engage with allies.

The term ‘human rights defender’ refers to a broad range of activists, journalists and independent media professionals, scholars, writers, artists, lawyers, civil and political rights defenders, civil society members, and others working to advance human rights and democracy around the world in a peaceful manner.

From March, June and September 2025 onwards, 14 cities in the Netherlands will receive human rights defenders for a period of three months. At the end of their stay in the Netherlands, participants are expected to return with new tools and energy to carry out their work at home.

Shelter City research fellow at the Asser Institute
To strengthen and support the capacity of local human rights defenders worldwide, Justice & Peace and the Asser Institute have joined forces, whereby the Asser Institute hosts one Shelter City fellow a year within the Asser Institute’s Visiting researchers programme. The selected fellow will carry out a research project during the three-month period and participate in other human rights-related (research) activities of the Asser Institute. In line with these activities, closer to the end of the three-month period, the Fellow will have to present the relevant research findings in a public or closed event. The Fellow may also participate in other (public) events like lectures or (panel) discussions.

Read the full call, and apply now.

The deadline for applications is 30 August 2024 at 23:59 CEST (Central European Summer Time). Note that selected human rights defenders will not automatically participate in Shelter City as Justice & Peace is not in control of issuing the required visas to enter the Netherlands. 

For more information, please contact info@sheltercity.org