Advocacy
United States: PEN America Urges Arkansas House of Representatives to Reject Proposed Howard Zinn Ban Bill
PEN America sent this letter to every member of the Arkansas House of Representatives on March 28, 2017 Arkansas House of Representatives State Capitol 500 Woodlane St. Suite 350 Little… More
Detention and Sentencing of Protesters Continues in Belarus
Detaining peaceful protesters is a clear violation of human rights, and Belarus must immediately and unconditionally drop all charges and free them, says PEN America. More
Journalists, Booksellers Among Activists Arrested in Belarus Ahead of Protests
The violent detention of journalists, literary figures, and activists by authorities in Belarus ahead of planned demonstrations is an effort to silence voices of opposition and a violation of… More
Belarusians Protest New Labor Law That Punishes Independent Writers and Artists
Belarussians take to the streets to protest a newly introduced law meant to tax those not involved in state enterprises, which activists say is meant to target independent writers… More
Joint Statement on the Deterioration of Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Turkey
This was originally presented as an oral statement to the UN Human Rights Council by Sarah Clarke of PEN International on March 15, 2017. PEN International, ARTICLE 19, and 66 organizations are deeply… More
“Reporting on Terrorism is not the same as being a Terrorist”: The Arrest of Deniz Yücel in Turkey
The recent arrest of Turkish-German journalist Deniz Yücel is another nail in the coffin of free expression and media freedom in Turkey. More
Mexican Journalists to U.S. Colleagues: ‘We Never Believed This Day Would Come’
At this time of an unprecedented, relentless assault on the free press of the United States by the Trump administration, we Mexican journalists, writers, and publishers stand in solidarity… More
Aggressive Interrogation of Artists and Writers at U.S. Border
Several prominent writers have spoken out in recent weeks about their experiences at the border, which have altered their views of the United States and what it stands for. More
Sin and Censorship in Russia
The upcoming Russian film Matilda has attracted the ire of Orthodox activists who are calling for the film to be banned for portraying a saint as a sinner. More
Statement in Support of Freedom of the Press
Free speech organizations are alarmed by the efforts of the President and his administration to demonize and marginalize the media and to undermine their ability to inform the public… More