PEN Canada envisions a world where
writers are free to write,
readers are free to read,
and freedom of expression prevails
PEN International and PEN Chile condemn legal actions taken against the activists and artists of LASTESIS, authors of the performance piece “A rapist in your way”, which has been performed in more than 35 countries. These actions, brought by a branch of the Chilean police force, the Carabineros, put freedom of expression at risk and demonstrate […]
TORONTO (July 6) PEN Canada will today intervene in the Canadian Civil Liberties Association’s case against the provincial government. The CCLA’s lawsuit alleges that certain stickers mandated by law to be attached to gas pumps are a form of compelled political speech which violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The stickers – which […]
Update #4 to RAN 08/2018 PEN International is alarmed by reports that writer, journalist and human rights defender Narges Mohammadi may have contracted COVID-19 in Zanjan prison where she is serving sentences totalling 16 years for her rights activism. She suffers from underlying health conditions for which she has been denied adequate treatment, further increasing […]
Between July 7 and 11, 2020, 28 journalists and media workers have been attacked by demonstrators and police officers during demonstrations across Serbia. PEN International joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium and other free expression and media freedom organizations in calling for all attacks and threats to journalists to be investigated fully to […]
In times of crisis, we need more than ever to ensure that writers’ voices are heard. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PEN Canada has faced a steep decline in fundraising revenues. Margaret Atwood, the honorary Vice-President of PEN International has pledged to match up to $25,000 of your donations until we reach our goal of $50,000. […]
The government of Zimbabwe has developed a Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill that merges cybersecurity and data protection which suffers from a range of shortcomings. PEN International joins PEN America and human rights and civil society organizations in calling on the government of Zimbabwe to review the country’s proposed Bill to ensure it conforms to regional […]
PEN International is concerned by reports that legislation ostensibly intended to counter ‘fake news’ is being applied to remove legitimate commentary on the Singapore government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Singapore Government has issued a Correction Direction to several organizations, including the web-based media organizations, New Naratif and The Online Citizen Asia, under the […]
Today, PEN International with the Courage Foundation, English PEN, German PEN, PEN Melbourne, PEN Norway, PEN Perth, Sydney PEN and other civil society organizations sent an open letter calling for the release of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange. “This indictment effectively opens the door to criminalizing activities that are vital to many investigative journalists who write […]
PEN International and 38 civil society organisations deplore the decision by a Turkish court to ban access to Germany-based online radio station Özgürüz (‘We Are Free’), which is headed by Can Dündar. We call on the Turkish authorities to reverse the decision, to stop the harassment of Dündar and to reform the country’s laws and judicial practice […]
Ahead of the “Platforms of Distortion” panel discussion hosted by the Centre for Free Expression at Ryerson, PEN’s Communications Intern, Kayla Chhin interviewed Matt Bailey, PEN America’s Digital Freedom Program Director. Kayla Chhin: On Twitter, you said that “In 2020, refusing to amplify disinfo is a crucial part of protest and dissent”. Misinformation and false […]
Finding the Words: Writers on Inspiration, Desire, War, Celebrity, Exile, and Breaking the Rules