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September 09, 2025 – Europe –
The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), in partnership with the City of Leipzig and the human rights organization Justice & Peace, officially inaugurated Shelter City Leipzig—an initiative designed to offer safe haven to journalists and media workers under threat. This establishment builds upon a decade of support through ECPMF’s Journalists-in-Residence Programme, and now formalizes Leipzig’s position within the international Shelter City network, coordinated by Justice & Peace in the Netherlands.
Through the new Memorandum of Understanding, ECPMF will scale up its protective measures, continuing to offer temporary relocation, emergency assistance, and professional support for media professionals forced to flee hostile environments due to their work. Under this scheme, Leipzig will remain a secure refuge where journalists can rebuild, rest, and resume their vital reporting.
Mayor Burkhard Jung emphasized Leipzig’s historical role in democratic resistance—celebrating the city’s legacy as the birthplace of peaceful revolution and affirming its present-day commitment to freedom of expression and international solidarity.
Beyond providing shelter, Shelter City Leipzig represents a strategic expansion of advocacy efforts. Collaborations between ECPMF, Justice & Peace, and other member cities will amplify press freedom, engage public policy at both local and EU levels, and safeguard the mobility and voice of journalists facing repression.
Leipzig’s integration into the Shelter City network marks a milestone for press freedom in Europe. It reinforces the city’s evolving identity as a democratic stronghold and highlights the crucial role of municipal action in protecting journalists who are often silenced by fear and censorship. With this initiative, Leipzig not only stands for sanctuary but also for resilience, media freedom, and the enduring power of independent journalism.
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