The City of Leipzig, in partnership with the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), has officially launched Shelter City Leipzig, a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the protection and support of endangered journalists and media workers in Europe. This effort is further reinforced through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Justice & Peace, establishing a sustainable framework for collaboration within the international Shelter City network.
For the past ten years, the ECPMF has provided threatened media workers with safe refuge through its Journalists-in-Residence program in Leipzig. With the launch of Shelter City Leipzig, these long-standing efforts are formalized, offering journalists, media professionals, and human rights defenders a secure space for respite, professional development, and continued work under pressure. Shelter City Leipzig now becomes an official hub for these protective measures, enhancing Leipzig’s reputation as a city committed to human rights, freedom of expression, and solidarity.
Under this initiative, the ECPMF will continue and expand its support programs, coordinating closely with Justice & Peace, which leads the international Shelter City Network from the Netherlands. This collaboration ensures that journalists at risk receive comprehensive protection and professional opportunities while fostering stronger cooperation between Leipzig and organizations dedicated to press freedom and human rights.
Mayor Burkhard Jung highlighted the importance of the initiative, noting that the ECPMF attracts journalists from across Europe and positions Leipzig and Saxony as a cosmopolitan media hub, reinforcing the city’s identity as a center of democracy and peaceful civic engagement.
Beyond hosting journalists at risk, Shelter City Leipzig will engage in joint initiatives with ECPMF, Justice & Peace, and other Shelter Cities to promote press freedom, human rights, and freedom of movement at both local and EU levels. These efforts aim to ensure that the voices of journalists and human rights defenders under threat continue to be heard and supported.
The ECPMF, based in Leipzig, is dedicated to monitoring, advocacy, and practical support for press freedom across Europe, while Justice & Peace Netherlands coordinates the international Shelter Cities network, providing temporary safe spaces for at-risk human rights defenders. Leipzig itself, known for its historic role in democratic and civil movements, continues this legacy by actively supporting human rights, freedom of expression, and international solidarity through initiatives like Shelter City Leipzig.
