Shelter Cities break open advocacy spaces for human rights defenders across Europe
The Shelter City network is a growing global movement of cities that stand in solidarity with human rights defenders.
Each Shelter City is a local collaboration of organizations and individuals working together to create a safe, supportive, and inspiring space for those who defend human rights under pressure. Today, the network spans 25 cities across the Netherlands, Georgia, Tanzania, Benin, Costa Rica, Nepal, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy — and continues to grow. Each Shelter City brings its own strengths, expertise and experiences into the network, enabling a shared space for meaningful exchange, learning, and collaboration across borders.
Crossing borders for climate justice
One such collaboration recently took shape through a partnership between Shelter City Lyon and Shelter City Rome implemented respectively by the partner organizations Agir Ensemble pour les Droits Humains and by Un Ponte Per.
In March, Olnar, an indigenous environmental defender from Venezuela and guest of Shelter City Lyon, travelled to Rome for a short residency as part of an exchange between the two Shelter Cities. His visit aimed to reach new audiences, and raise awareness of Indigenous rights and the urgent intersection between climate justice and human rights.
During his time in Rome, Olnar took part in a marathon — a peaceful and symbolic act of resistance — and spoke to over 200 teenagers and their families at a gathering supported by the local municipality. In a moving speech at Rome’s City Hall, he shared his message with clarity and urgency:
“The climate crisis is not only an environmental catastrophe — it is a profound human rights violation. Indigenous peoples have long warned about this crisis, but we have faced persecution for our activism.”
He called for the international community to recognize Indigenous knowledge and leadership in protecting the environment, and urged both politicians and journalists to support the cause of Indigenous peoples’ rights.
“It is necessary to allow the entire world to witness ongoing human rights violations. Running a marathon last week in Rome was a peaceful way to demonstrate the struggle I represent. I passed by children who looked at me with astonishment because of my “penacho”*—it’s important for them to see me.”
*A “penacho” is a headdress made of bright and colourful feathers typically worn for ornamental or ceremonial purposes by many Indigenous communities. As Olnar is a member of the Baré Indigenous community, this was a symbolic act to represent his identity and raise awareness of his culture.
Weaving collaboration as Shelter Cities
The visit of this Shelter City Lyon guest to Rome underscores the power of collaborative efforts within the Shelter City network. As Shelter City Lyon coordinator Sarah Nai emphasizes: “We are all trying our best to navigate through tidal waves of global budget cuts for international aid, the rise of far-right movements and shrinking civic spaces, in order to keep supporting human rights defenders in their fight against injustice.
Weaving collaborations between different Shelter Cities will not only foster mutual growth and strengthen our collective impact but also show that small acts matter and will keep us all motivated and determined to face these uncertain times together. This type of collaboration also creates opportunities for shared learning and improvement, and I hope it will encourage members of the Shelter City Global Network to collaborate more often locally.”
