<strong>PEN</strong> INTERNATIONALWriters in Prison CommitteeHalf-yearly CASELISTTo 30 June 2012<strong>PEN</strong> <strong>International</strong>Writers in Prison Committee50/51 High HolbornLondon WC1V 6ERUnited KingdomTel: + 44 020 74050338Fax: + 44 020 74050339e-mail: wipc@pen-international.org.ukweb site: www.pen-international.org.uk
<strong>PEN</strong> INTERNATIONAL Writers in Prison Committee<strong>PEN</strong> <strong>International</strong> is the leading voice of literature worldwide, bringing together poets, novelists, essayists, historians, critics, translators,editors, journalists and screenwriters. Its members are united in a common concern for the craft and art of writing and a commitment tofreedom of expression through the written word. Through its Centres, <strong>PEN</strong> operates on all five continents with 144 centres in 102 countries.Founded in London in 1921, <strong>PEN</strong> connects an international community of writers. It is a forum w<strong>here</strong> writers meet freely to discuss theirwork. It is also a voice speaking out for writers silenced in their own countries.The Writers in Prison Committee of Pen <strong>International</strong> was set up in 1960 as a result of mounting concern about attempts to silence criticalvoices around the world through the detention of writers. It works on behalf of all those who are detained or otherwise persecuted for theiropinions expressed in writing and for writers who are under attack for their peaceful political activities or for the practice of their profession,provided that they did not use violence or advocate violence or racial hatred.Member centres of <strong>PEN</strong> <strong>International</strong> are active in campaigning for an improvement in the conditions of persecuted writers and journalists.They send letters to the governments concerned and lobby their own governments to campaign for the release of detained writers and for investigationsin cases of torture and killings. Through writing to the families and, w<strong>here</strong> possible, directly to prisoners, they provide encouragementand hope.<strong>PEN</strong> <strong>International</strong> has consultative status at the United Nations and with UNESCO.For more visit www.pen-international.org<strong>PEN</strong> INTERNATIONAL CHARTERThe <strong>PEN</strong> Charter is based on resolutions passed at its international congresses and may be summarised as follows:<strong>PEN</strong> affirms that:1. Literature knows no frontiers and must remain common currency among people in spite of political or international upheavals.2. In all circumstances, and particularly in time of war, works of art, the patrimony of humanity at large, should be left untouched by nationalor political passion.3. Members of P.E.N. should at all times use what influence they have in favour of good understanding and mutual respect between nations;they pledge themselves to do their utmost to dispel race, class and national hatreds, and to champion the ideal of one humanity living inpeace in one world.4. P.E.N. stands for the principle of unhampered transmission of thought within each nation and between all nations, and members pledgethemselves to oppose any form of suppression of freedom of expression in the country and community to which they belong, as well asthroughout the world w<strong>here</strong>ver this is possible. P.E.N. declares for a free press and opposes arbitrary censorship in time of peace. Itbelieves that the necessary advance of the world towards a more highly organized political and economic order renders a free criticism ofgovernments, administrations and institutions imperative. And since freedom implies voluntary restraint, members pledge themselves tooppose such evils of a free press as mendacious publication, deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts for political and personal ends.Membership of P.E.N. is open to all qualified writers, editors and translators who subscribe to these aims, without regard to nationality, ethnicorigin, language, colour or religion.Information sourcesThe WiPC gathers its information from a wide variety of sources. It seeks to confirm its information through two independent sources. W<strong>here</strong>its information is unconfirmed, it will either take not action, or send an appeal worded to reflect the fact that the information is as yet incomplete.Sources include press reports, reports form individuals in the region in question, reports from other human rights groups <strong>PEN</strong> membersthemselves, embassy officials, academics, prisoners’ families, lawyers and friends, and exile groups. It also works with international NGOs,such as Amnesty <strong>International</strong> and Human Rights Watch. It is a founder member of IFEX – the <strong>International</strong> Freedom of Expression Exchange.IFEX is a collaborative, on-line service in which several groups involved in the campaign for free expression pool information. Other membersinclude Article 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Index on Censorship, the <strong>International</strong> Federation of Journalists and Reporters sansFrontieres, as well as regional and national groups. For further details see the IFEX website www.IFEX.orgOur work would be impossible without our Sponsors who include:OXFAM/NOVIB, Swedish <strong>International</strong> Development Foundation, Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Swedish Ministry of Culture,the Fritt Ord Foundation, Individual donations and membership fees from <strong>PEN</strong> members2
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