A few weeks ago, I was invited as a screenwriter for the opening of the new ‘Stage & Screen‘ section of PEN international. To my shame, I had never heard of PEN and its work. It only took a brief browse of their website to convince me I wanted in!
So what is PEN?
PEN is a non-profit organisation dedicated to ‘celebrating literature‘, ‘defending free expression‘, ‘protecting writers at risk‘, ‘supporting writers in exile‘, and ‘promoting linguistic rights’.
Yes, that’s a lot, and that only covers the titles of their website‘s tabs! As I cannot reproduce all their roles and actions here, let me simply give you a few practical examples:
– They have centres in more than 100 countries, campaigning for freedom of expression;
– They join forces with a global law firm Clifford Chance, giving their time pro bono to defend incarcerated authors and cinematographers because they expressed their opinions against the regime in place in their countries;
– They help connect writers around the world by creating a support network. For example, some imprisoned authors keep a link with the rest of the world thanks to the letters of the PEN circle members; or others, like Salman Rushdie was, are in protection programmes, cut from normal life, so PEN organises visits and events at theirs with PEN members and supporters.
– They work in all area of promoting literature and literacy, including publishing houses. After all, they are also essential in maintaining freedom of expression, so let’s not forget them!
When we think of the defence of the freedom of speech, our first thought is more often towards journalists, and rightly so, but let’s not forget the authors, poets, playwrights, filmmakers and all those who use the power of words for the good of their communities. PEN is both global and local, which is remarkable.
So, really, PEN is here to make sure that the written voices of our generation are not being silenced, either by the authoritarian regime they disturb or by lack of infrastructure. Well, by anything really. On their website, you will find cases of abuse from the authorities against influential writers, poets, filmmakers and the like whom they are trying to silence, and how you can help too, using your own words.
And let’s not forget that what PEN has achieved in the past hundred years for the writers among us, is also for us, the readers. ‘Literature and freedom of expression only exist because they are shared between the writers and the readers of the world‘, for the benefit of both. So even if you do not write but have a passion for words and for literature, you can also help by joining the PEN Readers circle!
Thank you for reading,
Yours, Virginie
