Freedom to Write in the Americas – interactive map and campaign postcard now available

29 April 2009 

As part of its ongoing Freedom to Write in the Americas campaign, the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC) today launches two new campaign tools:

1. An interactive map detailing attacks against writers and journalists in Americas, particularly Mexico. The map shows murders and disappearances in the five years from 2004 to 2008 as well as writers who are currently imprisoned. It also gives details of a number of ‘emblematic' cases of persecuted writers such as Lydia Cacho and Brigadier General José Gallardo in Mexico and Yehude Simón in Peru.

2. A Freedom to Write in the Americas campaign postcard providing an overview of the campaign and its aims. The postcard is designed to be downloaded and printed in order to publicise the campaign in public spaces and events.

Both resources are available in English and Spanish. A French version of the postcard will be available shortly, as will a campaign poster.

Other resources also available on the International PEN website, including campaign postcards for Cuba and Mexico, and the ‘Declaration in Defense of the Freedom to Write in the Americas’ (signed by more than 50 authors from across the region and released for World Press Freedom Day on 3 May).

We hope you find these campaign tools useful and look forward to receiving details of your activities.