International PEN brings together writers, journalists, poets – all those using the written word to promote ideas – in the common belief that it is through this sharing that bridges of understanding can be built between peoples. These bridges cross political, geographical, ethnic, cultural, religious and other divides.
It is for this reason that the protection of the right to freedom of expression – the freedom to express ideas without fear of attack, arrest or other persecution – has been at the heart of International PEN's work since it was formed in 1921.
PEN's work and advocacy was fully developed by the time the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was declared and adopted by the United Nations in 1948. It has been argued that PEN helped to define the concept of freedom of expression that is now enshrined under Article 19 of the Declaration, a right that is as important today as it was when it was defined in the aftermath of World War Two.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
The Writers in Prison Committee celebrates 50 years of defending freedom of expression with year-long campaign
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The Writers in Prison Committee's campaign for freedom of expression in the Americas
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MEXICO: Newspaper publisher shot dead
03 Feb 2010
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ETHIOPIA: Third newspaper editor jailed
03 Feb 2010
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CHINA: Writer and Independent Chinese PEN Officer Zhao Shiying released
02 Feb 2010
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AZERBAIJAN: Two journalists released
29 Jan 2010
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A year after Mexico’s commitments at the UN, violence against journalists and impunity continue unabated
19 Jan 2010
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MEXICO ACTION - UPR follow-up
19 Jan 2010
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CHINA: Writer and Independent Chinese PEN Officer Zhao Shiying Detained
18 Jan 2010
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PERU: Newspaper editor jailed for defamation
15 Jan 2010
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SRI LANKA: Journalist J. S. Tissainayagam freed
13 Jan 2010
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TUNISIA: Journalist and writer’s health deteriorates in prison
13 Jan 2010
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MEXICO: Another print journalist abducted and murdered
12 Jan 2010
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TURKEY: Writer and Human Rights Lawyer Detained
11 Jan 2010
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AZERBAIJAN: New charge against imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev
11 Jan 2010
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CHINA: Prominent dissident writer Liu Xiaobo appeals sentence
07 Jan 2010
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MEXICO: Newspaper editor shot dead
05 Jan 2010
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CHINA: Prominent dissident writer Liu Xiaobo sentenced to 11 years
30 Dec 2009
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International PEN calls Liu Xiaobo’s sentence a grievous betrayal of inalienable human rights
26 Dec 2009
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AZERBAIJAN: Authorities respond to PEN appeals; journalists remain imprisoned
17 Dec 2009
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MEXICO: Crime reporter missing
28 Nov 2009
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PHILIPPINES: International PEN Condemns the attack in Ampatuan
25 Nov 2009
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CHINA/TIBET: Internet writers sentenced
24 Nov 2009
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UZBEKISTAN: Imprisoned journalist’s family dies in accident
20 Nov 2009
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AZERBAIJAN: Internet writers sentenced on hooliganism charges
20 Nov 2009
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CUBA: Internet writers detained and beaten
19 Nov 2009
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CHINA: Uyghur journalist and editor detained
19 Nov 2009
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VIETNAM: Serious health concerns for two detained writers
18 Nov 2009
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SRI LANKA: Publisher released; journalist remains imprisoned.
17 Nov 2009
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MEXICO: Crime reporter abducted and murdered
05 Nov 2009
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CHINA: Internet writer and activist sentenced
03 Nov 2009
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International PEN Congress Issues Eleven Resolutions on Free Expression
29 Oct 2009
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AZERBAIJAN: Journalists sentenced on defamation charges
28 Oct 2009
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IRAN: Canadian-Iranian journalist, writer, film-maker and playwright released
26 Oct 2009
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VIETNAM: Dissident writers sentenced
14 Oct 2009
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MEXICO: Online columnist murdered
28 Sep 2009
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YEMEN: Editor abducted
23 Sep 2009
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Uganda: Journalist freed on bail
16 Sep 2009
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VIETNAM: Crackdown persists
15 Sep 2009
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Uganda: Journalist arrested and beaten
14 Sep 2009
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GAMBIA: Six journalists pardoned and released
10 Sep 2009
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KENYA: Kenyan PEN President released
09 Sep 2009
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KENYA: Kenyan PEN President and Secretary General arrested; fears for safety
08 Sep 2009
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AFGHANISTAN: Journalist Sayed Parvez Kambakhsh released
08 Sep 2009
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NIGER: Sick editor transferred to remote prison; concerns for health
08 Sep 2009
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CHINA: Uyghur writer and PEN member released
07 Sep 2009
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ETHIOPIA: Two editors jailed for a year
04 Sep 2009
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SRI LANKA: Tamil journalist sentenced to twenty years imprisonment
03 Sep 2009
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KAZAKHSTAN: Three-year imprisonment sentence for editor
21 Aug 2009
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Azerbaijan: Editor dies in prison
21 Aug 2009
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GUATEMALA: Publisher sentenced to one year in prison
14 Aug 2009
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CHINA: Writer and advocate released from prison
14 Aug 2009
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CHINA/TIBET: Writer and editor detained
11 Aug 2009
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MYANMAR: International PEN Statement on the Sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi
11 Aug 2009
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UZBEKISTAN: Twelve-year Sentence for Journalist Dilmurod Saidov
10 Aug 2009
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GAMBIA: Six journalists jailed for criticising President
07 Aug 2009
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WiPC alert on Sudanese journalist Lubna Ahmed Al-Hussein
07 Aug 2009
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VENEZUELA: Severe set-backs for freedom of expression
06 Aug 2009
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MEXICO: One year on, silence surrounds murder of anthropologist
29 Jul 2009
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ECUADOR: Editor Milton Chacaguasay jailed again
24 Jul 2009
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MEXICO: Two journalists killed in Chihuahua and Michoacán
22 Jul 2009
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RUSSIA/CHECHNYA: Human Rights Defender, Natalia Estemirova, Murdered
16 Jul 2009
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CHINA: Uyghur writer and PEN member detained
10 Jul 2009
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Iran: International PEN protests the continued detention of Maziar Bahari
10 Jul 2009
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TURKEY: Author Nedim Gürsel Acquitted
09 Jul 2009
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ECUADOR: Editor Milton Chacaguasay released
06 Jul 2009
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International PEN is outraged by the charges brought against Liu Xiaobo
29 Jun 2009
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CHINA: Prominent dissident writer formally charged
24 Jun 2009
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IRAN: Canadian-Iranian journalist, writer, film-maker and playwright detained without charge.
23 Jun 2009
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VIETNAM: Lawyer and dissident writer arbitrary detained
17 Jun 2009
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MEXICO: Second journalist murdered in Durango state
29 May 2009
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MEXICO: Fears for safety of author Lydia Cacho
28 May 2009
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CUBA: Journalist sentenced to three years’ imprisonment
19 May 2009
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RUSSIA: Four journalists killed and others attacked in first months of 2009
15 May 2009
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TURKEY: Gürsel Trial To Continue Against Prosecutor’s Advice
11 May 2009
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SENEGAL: Editor El Malick Seck released
08 May 2009
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MEXICO: Journalist killed on World Press Freedom Day
06 May 2009
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TURKEY: Trial of Book For "Humiliation" of Religion
01 May 2009
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ECUADOR: Call for release of Milton Chacaguasay
30 Apr 2009
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Freedom to Write in the Americas – interactive map and campaign postcard now available
29 Apr 2009
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World Press Freedom Day (3 May): focus on Latin America
27 Apr 2009
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CUBA: On 6th anniversary of Black Spring crackdown, PEN releases postcard calling for freedom of 25 imprisoned writers
19 Mar 2009
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