International PEN

International PEN, the worldwide association of writers, was founded in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere; to emphasise the role of literature in the development of mutual understanding and world culture; to fight for freedom of expression; and to act as a powerful voice on behalf of writers harassed, imprisoned and sometimes killed for their views. It is the world?s oldest human rights organization and the oldest international literary organization. PEN originally stood for "Poets, Playwrights, Essayists and Novelists," but now includes writers of any form of literature, such as journalists and historians.

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PEN is strictly non-political, a non-governmental organization in formal consultative relations with UNESCO and Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

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The first PEN Club was founded in London in 1921 by Mrs. C.A. Dawson Scott and John Galsworthy, who would become International PEN's first President.

Related Topics:
London - John Galsworthy

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The club established the following aims:

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• To promote intellectual co-operation and understanding among writers;
• To create a world community of writers that would emphasize the central role of literature in the development of world culture; and,
• To defend literature against the many threats to its survival which the modern world poses.

PEN is composed of 141 Centres around the world, each of which represents its membership and not its country, and membership of its Centres is open to all qualified writers, journalists, translators, historians and others actively engaged in any branch of literature, regardless of nationality, race, colour or religion. Every member is required to sign the PEN Charter and by so doing to observe its conditions.

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International PEN: PEN Charter ►