On Monday, 8 December 2025, Shelter City Utrecht celebrated its tenth anniversary at the Utrecht City Hall. It was a special event during which, together with volunteers, board members, guests, and other stakeholders, ten years of support to human rights defenders were commemorated.
From 6:00 p.m., guests were welcomed at Utrecht City Hall. Snacks and drinks were available in the hall, creating a warm and convivial start to the evening.
The program opened with a welcome speech by Lizzy, in which she reflected on ten years of Shelter City Utrecht. She spoke about the founding of the project and its mission to provide human rights defenders with a temporary safe haven. This period of safety offers them the opportunity to recover, reflect, and prepare to continue their work in their home country.
After the opening, a video was shown that captures ten years of Shelter City Utrecht. The video features personal stories, key moments, and the impact of the project. It illustrates how Shelter City Utrecht has developed over the past decade and how many people the project has been able to support.
After her speech, a video was shown featuring the story of Mona, a former guest of Shelter City Utrecht. Her personal experience clearly demonstrated what temporary safety, peace, and support can mean for someone who has worked under great pressure for a long time.
Another important part of the program was the panel discussion led by Lizzy. The panel consisted of Anne-Marijke Podt (Member of Parliament and initiator of Shelter City Utrecht), Antoine Buyse (Director at the SIM Human Rights Institute of Utrecht University), and Maral Khajeh (Shelter City Coordinator at Justice & Peace and member of the Advisory Council on International Affairs). The discussion addressed the original idea behind the establishment of Shelter City Utrecht, developments in recent years, and the future of the program.
This panel was followed by a more intimate moment. Human rights defender—and current Shelter City Utrecht guest—Badee recited a beautiful poem. The poem showed how art can help make human rights visible and how poetry can transmit a message that might otherwise be difficult to express.
The evening was concluded by Lizzy, who thanked all speakers, volunteers, and attendees for their contributions and presence. Afterwards, there was an opportunity to talk with one another, share experiences, and reflect on the event together.
See below the aftermovie of the event:
With thanks to Gemeente Utrecht, Justice & Peace and the SIM Human Rights Institute of Utrecht University.
