A PEN year-in-review
Thank you to all of our patrons, members, donors, supporters, volunteers, writers, readers, peers, and friends who have been a part of the PEN community in the past year. We …
News
After Assad: five Syrian and Arab writers on what’s next
The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has been a devastating and prolonged conflict led by the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad. The conflict has caused immense humanitarian suffering, …
PEN urges government to reject UN draft Convention on Cybercrime
This week, we signed an open letter, alongside 20 organizations and experts, urging the Canadian government to reject the UN draft Convention on Cybercrime. The draft is up for approval …
PEN welcomes changes to Bill C-63, Online Harms Act
PEN Canada today commended the Government of Canada for removing more controversial parts of Bill C-63, particularly the heavy-handed hate speech penalties. The government heeded concerns expressed by a wide …
PEN Canada signs joint letter by Free Narges Coalition and partners
Free Narges Coalition and partners urge UN Human Rights Council to intervene for Narges Mohammadi’s urgent medical release November 18, 2024 To the United Nations Human Rights Council, We, the …
Free Them All: Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2024
As every year, on November 15, the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, PEN calls for urgent international action to protect writers and journalists across the globe, who increasingly find themselves targeted for …
Alaa Abd El-Fattah: 27 NGOs send letter to United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
November 12, 2024: Dear Dr. Gillett, Dr. Yudkivska, Ms. Gopalan, Dr. Estrada-Castillo, and Dr. Malila, We are writing, as a coalition of human rights organisations, regarding the urgent submission made …
PEN Canada against the targeting and killing of journalists in Gaza and Lebanon
It is over a year since Israel began its lethal bombing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. As of November 8, the Committee …
Film, ‘Russia at War’ creates battle for freedom of expression in Canada
In free and democratic societies like Canada’s, politicians do not critique the arms-length funding decisions of arts agencies, nor the productions that result from them. Why? Because political interventions send …
Shree Paradkar wins 2024 Ken Filkow Prize
Shree Paradkar, an award-winning journalist and equity advocate, has won the 2024 Ken Filkow Prize. The prize recognizes Paradkar for advancing freedom of expression in Canada. Paradkar is a race …