PEN Canada for Freedom of Expression

About PEN

PEN Canada works on behalf of writers, at home and abroad, who have been forced into silence for writing the truth as they see it. PEN Canada is for debate and against silence. We lobby governments in Canada and internationally; organize petitions; send letters, faxes and postcards for the release of persecuted writers; and conduct public awareness campaigns about freedom of expression. We work for the release of imprisoned writers internationally, against censorship nationally and for networking and professional opportunities for writers living in exile in Canada.

Our centre has between 25-30 Honorary Members in many countries around the world on whose behalf we work so that they are released from prison and their voices heard once again.

Mission Statement PEN Canada is an independent, non-progit organization that is committed to defending freedom of opinion and the peaceable expression of such opinion, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It campaigns on behalf of writers around the world persecuted for their thoughts. In Canada, it supports the right of freedom of expression as enshrined in Sectin 2 (b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Back to top
PEN is about persistent interventions, letters, phone calls, pressure: all efforts in an endless campaign which writers can’t afford to turn their backs on. For that matter, I don’t think anyone can. - Honorary Patron John Ralston Saul