PEN International provides the latest research to the United Nations on the situation of freedom of expression and writers at risk in countries of concern through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. This peer review mechanism is the UN Human Rights Council’s system of tracking the implementation of human rights improvements in each of its member states. These reviews take place every 4 years. PEN International conducts research and submits a report ahead of the review and undertakes advocacy meetings with writers from the state under review in Geneva before the UPR with the aim of ensuring that freedom of expression and writers at risk are prioritised during the monitoring phase 

Latest Submissions - 2019

Turkey: PEN International's joint submission with ARTICLE 19, P24, English PEN, Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), International Press Institute (IPI), Freemuse, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), IFEX and Norsk PEN.

Spain: PEN International's joint submission with PEN Català and Freemuse. 

2018

Ethiopia: PEN International's joint submission with CIVICUS, The Committee to Protect Journalists, DefendDefenders, The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, The Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia, Article 19, The Consortium of Ethiopian Rights Organisations, and Access Now

Eritrea: PEN International's joint submission with PEN Eritrea in Exile and the Committee to Protect Journalists

Saudi Arabia: PEN International's joint submission with Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain and The Committee to Protect Journalists

Malta: Updated Summary and Recommendations

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PEN International's joint submission with ARTICLE 19, English PEN, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, International Press Institute and Reporters without Borders

Hong Kong: PEN International's joint submission with PEN Hong Kong, PEN Canada, the University of Hong Kong Centres for Comparative and Public Law, and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law International Human Rights Program

Russia: PEN International’s joint submission with ARTICLE 19, Mass Media Defence Centre, OVD-Info, Roskomsvoboda, and the Sova Centre

China: PEN International's joint submission with Independent Chinese PEN Centre, PEN America and PEN Tibet

Mexico: PEN International's joint submission with ARTICLE 19, Committee to Protect Journalists

2017 

Bangladesh: PEN International’s joint submission with Freemuse, Drik Picture Library and PEN Bangladesh

Azerbaijan: PEN International’s joint submission with ARTICLE 19, Reporters Sans Frontiers, Freedom Now, International Media Support, IRFS and Index on Censorship

Zambia: PEN International’s joint submission with PEN Zambia

Ghana: PEN International’s joint submission with PEN Ghana

Guatemala: PEN International’s joint submission with PEN Guatemala, PEN Canada and the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law

South Africa: PEN International’s joint submission with PEN South Africa and PEN Afrikaans

India: PEN International’s joint submission with PEN Canada, and the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law

Brazil: PEN International’s joint submission with PEN Canada and the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law

2015

Lebanon: PEN International´s joint submission with PEN Lebanon and FREEMUSE

2014

Turkey: PEN International´s joint submission with ARTICLE 19, CPJ, English PEN, Freedom House, and P24

Kyrgyzstan: PEN International´s joint submission with ARTICLE 19

2013

Cambodia: PEN International´s joint submission with ARTICLE 19, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, Cambodian PEN, International Publishers Association, Southeast Asian Press Alliance, and Cambodian Center for Independent Media. 

Eritrea: PEN International´s submission

Vietnam: PEN International´s joint submission with English PEN, ARTICLE 19, and ACCESS