PEN Members: what you can do

International PEN calls on its members to take part in its campaign on China

China is a country where International PEN has had significant concerns for many years because of the large numbers of writers and journalists held in prison for calling for improved civil and political rights. In addition to the number of long-term detainees in China, International PEN is also seriously concerned about prison conditions, ill treatment and abuse, access to medical care and family visits, lack of due process and harassment. As the Games approach, there are signs of a deterioration in human rights, and a crackdown on dissidents trying to speak out on human rights issues in China.

 

What PEN Members can do  

PEN Centres are asked to raise publicity in their own countries, encourage journalists to cover freedom of expression in their reporting on the Games, lobby their own governments, sporting and other delegations to Beijing, request meetings with Chinese diplomats and representatives in their own countries, and to form alliances with other NGOs and individuals concerned for the state of free expression in China. Using the publicity and international presence at the Beijing Olympics, the campaign aims to mobilise the PEN membership towards:


The Campaign, co-ordinated by International PEN, incorporates group initiatives by PEN Centres including the following: