The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International works on behalf of persecuted writers worldwide. It was established in 1960 in response to increasing attempts to silence voices of dissent by imprisoning writers and journalists.

Working on behalf of persecuted writers worldwide, the WiPC campaigns on scores of cases across the globe each year, promoting PEN International’s annual Case List. In addition to its work on behalf of individual writers, the Committee supports campaigns on issues affecting freedom of expression, including all forms of censorship, Criminal Defamation, Blasphemy, and Hate Speech along with specific country-focused campaigns on for example China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Myanmar, and Turkey.