Rapid Action Network

 ** Read our latest Rapid Action on  Maldives **

To read recent Rapid Actions, click on the country name to the left 

The Rapid Action Network (RAN) was founded by the Writers in Prison Committe of International PEN in 1991.  Its purpose is to alert its members as rapidly as possible to disturbing developments affecting the welfare of writers and journalists around the globe, and to encourage them to respond instantly by writing an appeal and passing the information on to their contacts.

Distributed by email, each alert gives members the confirmed facts of the case; a paragraph stating clearly what PEN's concerns are about the case; a sample appeal; and the address or fax numbers to which appeals should be addressed. 

Joining the network does not mean you are obliged to respond to every RAN (although one letter every month would be enormously helpful in reinforcing the work we do here) but we do ask that if you decide to send an appeal you do so as soon as possible after you receive the alert.

The Rapid Action Network will also be used to bring you updates from the Writers in Prison Committee (for example, when a prisoner is acquitted as with Sa’ad Eddin Ibrahim in Egypt) or when specific appeals arise (for example, the request for cards and dried food stuffs for the Belarusian prisoners).

Here is a sample letter which can be used as a guide.

If you are a PEN member and would like further information, please email rapidactionnetwork@englishpen.org

If you want to join PEN, please fill in our Membership form