Dear members and fellow travellers Let me begin by thanking Hélène Jaccomard who kept this column going while I was away for the last three issues of the newsletter. While in Europe, I was reminded rather soberingly of the pointy end of PEN International’s work when I joined a meeting of key PEN centres toContinueContinue reading “Chair’s reflection – August 2026”
Tag Archives: Writers in Prison
Why 400 Empty Chairs matter more than ever
Acting Chair’s message July 2026 As members and friends will know, one of the ways PEN centres around the world raise awareness of the fight for freedom of expression is to have empty chairs at public events. An empty chair has indeed become one of the most powerful symbols of the FIFA World Cup. FrenchContinueContinue reading “Why 400 Empty Chairs matter more than ever”
URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Letter Writing Campaign
Kyaw Min Yu (Ko Jimmy). Source: PEN International PEN International recently condemned the Myanmar military junta’s public declaration they intend to proceed with the execution of author and activist Kyaw Min Yu (also known as Ko Jimmy), who was arrested in 2021 for criticising the military coup in social media posts. Kyaw Min Yu, alongContinueContinue reading “URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Letter Writing Campaign”
Sudan Reading
On Tuesday 23 November PEN Perth held a reading to protest the military coup which took place on 25 October in Sudan. Read the summary and two featured poems here.
Writers in Prison Committee Meeting
On 14 September, representatives from over 60 PEN Centres convened for its annual Writers in Prison Committee (WIPC) meeting. The meeting drew attention to the critical situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s recent takeover means that Afghan writers, activists, and cultural practitioners—especially women—face imminent danger.
Report on the PEN International World Congress 2021
The Centenary World Congress of PEN was held via Zoom from 20-24 September, with the four Committee meetings held in the previous week. The Congress held some fascinating panel discussions on issues related to freedom of expression with participants such as Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, as well as talks by John Ralston Saul, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Ma Thida and others.