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Adania Shibli to deliver keynote at PEN International’s 90th Annual Congress in Oxford, UK
Palestinian author Adania Shibli, reflecting on 'the principle of unhampered transmission of thought' will deliver the keynote address for the Opening Ceremony of 'Writers in a World at War' - PEN International's 90th Annual Congress.
Join us at the Weston Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, Oxford, on Tuesday 24th September, in partnership with English PEN.
War, Censorship, and Persecution: PEN International case list 2023/2024
PEN International launches its Case List 2023/2024, highlighting challenges for writers in global conflicts and emphasising the need to safeguard freedom of expression, especially in war-torn regions.
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Freedom of expression is deteriorating worldwide giving way to a rise in hate speech and oppressive legislation which threatens the lives and wellbeing of all kinds of writers, inc. poets, novelists, and journalists, as well as publishers. Meanwhile, writers, particularly women and those from marginalised communities, still need equal access and representation within the literary and civic spaces.
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About us
We believe in everyone’s freedom to write and read, wherever they are in the world. Founded in 1921, today PEN International is recognised as the world’s foremost association of writers, as well as a leading international charity and expert on freedom of expression.
A reason to celebrate
PEN International welcomes the release from prison of Wikileaks founder and publisher Julian Assange. Assange was released from Belmarsh Prison in the UK on 24 June 2024 after reaching a plea deal with the US Department of Justice. His plea deal, while granting him freedom, could set a dangerous precedent for press freedom worldwide.