Honorary Members in Prison or on Trial

One of the Writers in Prison Committee's oldest and most successful strategies has been the election of imprisoned writers as Honorary members of a local centre. English PEN's WiPC currently has over 25 members who are dedicated to campaigning for the release of writers in prison. WiPC members offer solidarity with their international colleagues by making them Honorary members and they are sent membership cards, letters and books - this helps to lessen the damaging effects of fear and isolation, and provides hope for the future. At any one time the committee may be looking after 40 Honorary members. The testimonies of hundreds of writers it has represented over the past forty years illustrates that the WiPC has been instrumental in keeping despair and loneliness at bay. The WiPC also raise awareness of their plight, lobbies for their release and encourages others - including government officials - to do so too.

For an account by Naomi May of her experiences as a minder with the WiPC CLICK HERE 

Click on the country in the left-hand list to view information about English PEN's Honorary members.

To view International PEN WiPC's full case list of writers CLICK HERE.