International

International PEN is the only worldwide association of writers, founded in London in 1921. Its objectives are to uphold freedom of expression wherever it may be threatened; to resist political censorship; to champion writers in prison and in oppressive regimes; to promote greater international and intercultural understanding and co-operation via writers and the written word. PEN is strictly non-political, holding Category A status at UNESCO and the UN.

There are now 144 PEN Centres in 101 countries, and each operates as an autonomous organisation. They maintain links with each other through the International PEN secretariat in London (UK). Each year there is an International PEN Congress where representatives from all Centres meet to discuss policy and topical concerns. The 2005 Congress was hosted by Slovene PEN in Bled, in June - click here to read reports from the congress. The 2006 Congress was held in Berlin. The International PEN website homepage has been developed so that viewers can now access the latest news from International PEN and Committees directly from the homepage.

PEN members across the world have pledged to uphold the values of the PEN Charter, and as such form a unique global corpus of writers dedicated to freedom of expression and the power of the written word. PEN members believe that 'literature knows no frontiers', and though membership of one centre constitutes membership of all, individual writers are encouraged to seek out and join their local Centre. To find the contact details of your local centre, contact the secretariat, International PEN.

Some of the many PEN centres around the world have websites, as listed below:

African writers abroad centre(uk) www.africanwritersabroad.org.uk

American Centre (New York) www.pen.org

American PEN West Centre www.penusa.org

Australian Centre (Sydney - directs you to regional Centres) www.pen.org.au

Austrian Centre www.penclub.at

Belarusian Centre www.pen.unibel.by

Canadian Centre www.pencanada.ca

Canberra Centre http://www.plateaupress.com.au/pen/pencanberra.htm

Catalan Centre www.pencatala.org

Chinese (Independent Chinese) Centre www.penchinese.net

Cuban Writers in Exile Centre www.pencubanexile.org