Safe house
From Free net encyclopedia
A safe house is a location placed in the neighbourhood where a trusted adult or family or charity organisation has agreed to provide a safe place for battered wives and abused children to go to, when they feel that their life is threatened by domestic abuse.
It is also a phrase used by intelligence agencies and police forces as meaning a secured location, suitable for hiding witnesses agents or other persons perceived as being in danger. As well, it is a place where people may go to avoid persecution of their activities by authorities.
The common theme of each of these meanings is that of a safe place or sanctuary from harm.
Safe houses were an integral part of the Underground railroad, a network of safe locations which were used to assist slaves to escape to freedom in the United States.
In each of the cases above, the locations of safe houses are, or were, kept secret from all but a limited number of people, for the safety of those hidden within them.
Many religious institutions will allow one to obtain sanctuary within their place of worship, and some governments respect and do not violate such sanctuary.