“A rare and valuable opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge” – Oslo as a Breathing Space City Spring 2025

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“A rare and valuable opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge, something that can be difficult to find in our day-to-day realities as human rights defenders. The Breathing Space City program was thoughtfully designed, offering a safe and supportive environment where I felt genuinely welcomed and cared for. It was not only a time of rest but also of learning, growth, and connection. I’m very grateful for having been part of it.”

– Davut Arslan, Oslo Breathing Space City guest during Spring 2025

Oslo has since 2023 been a Breathing Space City for human rights defenders. In this latest update from the programme, you will meet Ekaterine and Davut who stayed in Oslo during the spring of 2025, and learn about their experiences and the tailor-made breathing spaces created for them.

Oslo as a Breathing Space City for human rights defenders is a temporary relocation programme with the aim of creating a breathing space for human rights defenders living in stressful or hostile environments.

From April to June 2025, the Breathing Space City programme hosted two human rights defenders: Davut from Türkiye and Ekaterine from Georgia. Ekaterine focuses on LGBTQI+ and women’s rights and has been the director of the WISG organization in Tbilisi. Davut has been actively involved in a wide range of human rights initiatives and has served as a human rights lawyer for multiple organizations. By participating in the Breathing Space City programme, they found a much-needed pause from their demanding work, drawing renewed inspiration and support through meaningful connections with like-minded individuals. A combination of cultural exploration, psychosocial support, English coaching, time outdoors in the nearby nature of Oslo, and varied interactive experiences made the programme especially rewarding.

"The opportunity to rethink my own resilience, to process difficult experiences, and to make new connections has been a great gift — one that I believe will positively shape both my personal wellbeing and my future work as a human rights defender."

– Ekaterine Aghdgomelashvili, Oslo Breathing Space City guest during Spring 2025

Photo highlights from Davut’s and Ekaterine’s stay

To offer our guests a meaningful breathing space and enriching experiences, we ensure they can engage with Oslo’s vibrant cultural life, ranging from visits to museums and libraries, to outdoor adventures, as well as other wellbeing activities. They also have the opportunity to connect with politicians, and representatives from voluntary organisations, civil society groups, and the university. All activities are thoughtfully tailored to the guests’ individual needs and interests.

Through this targeted capacity-building, the programme equipped participants with practical tools for both personal resilience and sustainability. These opportunities were valued not only for their relevance but also for providing space to recharge and reflect on their ongoing needs as human rights defenders.

This photo series highlights some of the diverse activities enjoyed by our guests during the Spring of 2025.

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Ekaterine and Davut were welcomed by the member organisations of the programme and other partners.
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The Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Ine Eriksen Søreide, from the Conservative Party (Høyre), met with Davut and Ekaterine and talked about their work as human rights defenders and how the programme equips them with tools to continue their work upon returning home.
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Demonstrating the City of Oslo’s ongoing commitment to the programme, Oslo’s Mayor, Anne Lindboe, once again met with the participants.
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Ekaterine and Davut visited “Roseslottet” on a beautiful Spring-day in May! This is an exhibition showcasing the occupation of Norway during WWII and the liberation in 1945.
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Both guests visited Vigelandsparken, a park they enjoyed a lot!
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During a guided visit to the Norwegian Parliament, they gained insight into the country’s democratic system and how it functions in practice.
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Together with the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees (Fagforbundet), we took a day trip to Ringerike prison to learn about the human rights of inmates.
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Ekaterine presented her work as a queer feminist activist for the students at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights at the University of Oslo.
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Ekaterine and Davut visited Trondheim together with Executive Director of the NHRF, Ingeborg Moa.
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Then we said goodbye on a rooftop terrace with ice cream and Davut’s homemade apple pie.

Finally, Global Citizen interviewed Ekaterine for an article exploring her activism as a queer feminist. This excerpt from the interview highlights the importance of initiatives like Oslo as a Breathing Space City:

"This programme offers something rare and essential: a space for rest, reflection, and recovery. It offers more than comfort — it offers care rooted in solidarity. It’s not just about respite; it’s about being seen, held, and supported in a way that allows us to rebuild the inner strength needed to keep going. For many of us, especially those coming from countries where such care is entirely absent, this program has been nothing short of transformative."

– Ekaterine, Interview with Global Citizen

You can find the article by clicking this link.


We are grateful to our donors for making it possible to support our participants, and through that support ensure that they as human rights leaders can continue to support a whole community of human rights defenders back home. We cannot wait to welcome new guests this autumn.

Find more information about the Oslo Breathing Space City project and see the profiles of Ekaterine and Davut, as well as other previous participants, here.

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