Freedom of expression is a human right. We defend it, in Canada and around the world.
Freedom of expression is a human right. We defend it, in Canada
and around
the world.
Defend Expression
our work on issues at home and abroad:
We Are Writers: Collective Freedom and the Cost of Its Defense
January 29, 2026
How a 1994 manifesto marked a decisive moment in the institutional memory of Iranian literary resistance.
The Moral Collapse of Silence
January 28, 2026
Under total internet shutdown and informational darkness in Iran, we still do not know how the killing machine is operating.
Call to Writers, by Fereshteh Molavi
January 27, 2026
The people of Iran need to be seen, to be heard, and to connect with the world.
Canadian Issues
Acting on our mandate, PEN has a long history of fighting censorship in Canada.
We are working on issues close to home: book bans, online harms, and transnational repression.
International Initiatives
We are a part of a global network of human rights defenders, writers and advocates.
In close collaboration with partners, we take up advocacy, produce reports on free expression issues across the globe, and build special projects to strengthen foreign media development.
Awards recognizing defenders of free expression
Ken Filkow Prize
The Ken Filkow Prize honours those who have advanced freedom of expression within Canada. Past recipients include journalists, activists, and legal scholars.
Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize
The Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize recognizes a Canadian individual or institution that has provided vital support to writers who face persecution abroad.
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