On Friday, 7 November 2025, at Palazzo Valentini (seat of the Metropolitan Council of Roma Capitale, Via IV Novembre 119/A - Rome), the Global Meeting of the Shelter City programme partners will be held, entitled "Networked Cities, Rights in Common - Towards a Sustainable Protection Ecosystem".

It will be an international meeting to jointly define the role of the global Shelter City network, in which Un Ponte Per coordinates the Shelter City Rome initiative.

We will focus on how municipalities, local institutions and civil society work together in the protection of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), through concrete examples, operational tools and territorial alliances.

Speakers will be:

- Tiziana Biolghini, Councillor of the Metropolitan City of Rome
- TheAmbassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Italy
- Justice & Peace / Un Ponte Per / Shelter City Global
- A series of testimonies and lessons learned from West Asia and North Africa on the defence of civic space

It will be an opportunity to share experiences, strengthen alliances and build safer and more supportive cities together for those who defend human rights.

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PROGRAMME:

09:30 Arrival and registration

10:00 Welcome Words A Bridge For

10:15 Speech by the Councillor of the Metropolitan City of Rome - Tiziana Biolghini

10:30 Speech by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Italy

10:45 Questions and reflections - Moderation: Lodovico Mariani (UPP/Shelter City Rome)

11:15 Coffee break

11:30 Shelter City Rome in practice: reflections by Omar & Lorenza

12:00 The key role of municipalities and diplomats in protecting human rights defenders
- Lodovico Mariani, UPP / Coordinator Shelter City Rome
- Nicoleta Mitut, Municipality of Deventer / Coordinator Shelter City Deventer
- Sjoerd de Vries Lentsch, Municipality of The Hague
- Hanne Küpers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Representative of the Italian Network of Shelter Cities

12:30 Questions and reflections
- Moderation: Maral Khajeh (Justice & Peace/ Shelter City Global)

12:45 Protecting HRDs in practice: lessons from West Asia and North Africa on defending civic space

13:15 Closing Moment