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.

The writers whom we support face a variety of dangers. They are caught in wars, imprisoned, intimidated by government or gangs, working in exile, or living as refugees. There are also Canadian writers within our borders who are the target of censorship.

They all merit our support. To this end, PEN Canada has four components to its program work: Free Expression in Canada; Readers & Writers; Writers in Exile; and Writers in Prison. These diverse initiatives are designed to support:

• The tribulations of Canadian writers who battle judicial and other attacks on their words;
• Writers living in exile, silenced in their native land, but whose voices must be heard and who must be encouraged to continue writing; and,
• Writers and journalists overseas who languish in jail for peacefully practising their right to freedom of expression.