Justice and Peace is launching a new call for Human
Rights Defenders to participate in the Shelter City Initiative.
The Shelter City Initiative offers
human rights defenders the possibility for rest and respite by letting them
escape from a temporarily threatening situation. Shelter City is a last resort
when shelter in the region is not possible and the safety of the human rights
defender in question cannot be guaranteed. An important principle of the
Shelter City Initiative is that human rights defenders continue their work,
even if they are temporarily relocated.
In the first half of 2016, six
cities in The Netherlands will receive Human Rights Defenders for a period of
three months. We are looking for Human Rights Defenders who are being
threatened because of their work and who might be helped with this
programme. Please circulate this message to all interested candidates who
you may know.
Applicants must fulfil the
following parameters:
1. The HRD is a human rights defender
in the broad sense of the word (lawyers, members of NGOs, poets or artists can
all apply, as long as their work promotes human rights or he/she fights against
human rights violations)
2. The HRD faces threats due to his/her
work and is in need of a shelter and/or rest and respite
3. The HRD should be able to return to
the country of origin after 3 months.
4. The HRD has to be willing to come to
the Netherlands around the middle of February 2015.
5. The HRD should speak fluently
English, French or Spanish (4 of the 6 positions request some level of English)
6. The HRD should be willing to come
alone.
The period in the Netherlands can
also be used to strengthen the capacities of human rights defenders. This could
be done by computer courses, language courses, safety training, media training
or other courses that could benefit the work of the human rights defender.
Furthermore, during his/her time in The Hague, the human rights defender can
extend his/her international network.
The application form
must be submitted before the 12th of January 2016.
Note that the Human Rights Defender
who applies will not be automatically allowed into the shelter programme as
Justice and Peace is not in control of issuing the required visa's to enter The
Netherlands.
To apply or submit the application
of a human rights defender, please e-mail info@sheltercity.org. You will then receive
an application form. Application forms must be returned before 12 January 2016.
For more information please contact
Alexia Falisse, alexia.falisse@justiceandpeace.nl +31 070 763 1493.
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