In September 2025, a West Papuan art collective called Udeido was invited to the contemporary art studio Framer Framed in Amsterdam for an exhibition titled Lawan! In the same studio, Udeido Collective shared a space with Watch 65. They were showing visual art and cultural archives to document past and ongoing oppression experienced by the Indonesian and West Papuan peoples.
Ten years after the murder of Berta Cáceres: GIEI report reveals corporate interests and failed oversight.
In the latest episode of podcast-series Talking Human Rights, Shelter City guest Badee Dwaik speaks about the human rights situation in Palestine. He shares insights on daily life and the ongoing violence in Gaza and the Westbank. Daily life there is marked by violence, invasions and restricted freedom of movement. Badee talks about how difficult it is for Palestinians who live there to keep going under these circumstances and about the importance of international solidarity.
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.
Between 25 and 28 November, we had the pleasure of hosting Norma and Carmelita from Guatemala, who were traveling through Europe on an advocacy tour.
On Friday the 28th of November, the opening of the “Portraits of Courage” photo-exhibition took place at the Stadskantoor in Utrecht. The people featured in the portraits on the walls of the city office are brave individuals who fight for freedom, equality and human rights. They are human rights defenders who have been part of the Shelter City Utrecht project over the past ten years. This exhibition forms part of the ten-year anniversary celebration of the project.
The annual insight day of Peace Brigades International (PBI) took place on the 8th of November. An event dedicated to the explanation of the values, principles and actions of PBI, with the human rights defenders and volunteers in mind. The event was organised by PBI-volunteers, with the help of several speakers. Three of the volunteers that helped organise the event are Khadija, Kika and Suzanne. They co-organised this event as part of their civic service (maatschappelijke diensttijd) through the Nationale Jeugdraad (NJR).
Sunday the 21st of September marked the International day of Peace, a day established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981. Twenty years later – in 2001 – this same General Assembly designated the day as a period of non-violence and ceasefire. On this day, PBI took a moment to reflect on what peace means for human rights defenders and volunteers.