Who We Are

PEN Canada envisions a world where writers are free to write, readers are free to read, and freedom of expression prevails.

The following beliefs and values inform our work:

• Without freedom of expression there is no freedom.
• We resist censorship in order to advance civil society, human rights, and the dignity of the individual.
• We benefit from diversity and are more effective when we work together (Please read our statement on diversity and inclusivity.)
• Literature helps to bridge cultural and political differences and fosters understanding between peoples.
• PEN must remain resolutely nonpartisan in defending freedom of expression.
• We strive to uphold high ethical standards in everything we do.
• Our success comes from the commitment of members, employees, volunteers, funders, and other supporters.

PEN Canada’s work is also guided by the: 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Article 19: 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.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – Section 2(b)  Everyone has the…freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.

The PEN Charter has unified and inspired all PEN centres and their members for over 70 years. It was approved at the 1948 PEN Congress in Copenhagen, and is reaffirmed annually at the PEN International Congress. 

PEN affirms that:

• Literature knows no frontiers and must remain common currency among people in spite of political or international upheavals.
• In all circumstances, and particularly in time of war, works of art, the patrimony of humanity at large, should be left untouched by national or political passion.
• Members of PEN should at all times use what influence they have in favour of good understanding and mutual respect between nations; they pledge themselves to do their utmost to dispel race, class and national hatreds, and to champion the ideal of one humanity living in peace in one world.
• PEN stands for the principle of unhampered transmission of thought within each nation and between all nations, and members pledge themselves to oppose any form of suppression of freedom of expression in the country and community to which they belong, as well as throughout the world wherever this is possible. PEN declares for a free press and opposes arbitrary censorship in time of peace. It believes that the necessary advance of the world towards a more highly organized political and economic order renders a free criticism of governments, administrations and institutions imperative. And since freedom implies voluntary restraint, members pledge themselves to oppose such evils of a free press as mendacious publication, deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts for political and personal ends.

PEN manifestos are often drafted, proposed and adopted by committees of PEN International, and brought forward to members and Centres during annual PEN International Congresses:

• PEN – Translation & Linguistic Rights Committee Statement on Sami Language and Literature
• The Democracy of the Imagination Manifesto
• Women’s Manifesto
• Copyright Manifesto
• Girona Manifesto on Linguistic Rights
• Declaration on Digital Freedom
• Bled Manifesto of the Writers for Peace
• The Quebec Declaration on Literary Translation and Translators
• The Importance of Higher-Level Reading: A Manifesto