Historical Background
International PEN's work with exiled writers began during the 1930s and 40s when thousands of intellectuals, writers and journalists opposed to or targeted by the Nazi regime had to flee their native lands coming under the rule of the National Socialists and seek refuge in foreign countries. With the help of International PEN, a number of national PEN centres and numerous individuals worldwide, the German PEN Centre in Exile, London , founded in 1934, was able to assist hundreds of them to escape and settle elsewhere.
The Writers in Exile Network started life in 1999 as a result of resolutions passed at the 1997 and 1998 International PEN Congresses that called for an in-depth study of the overall situation of exiled writers and an analysis of the best ways International PEN could be involved. Previous to this, a preliminary study had been carried out by Thomas von Vegesack in 1995 identifying a need for more communication on the issue of exiled writers.
A Working Group led by Vincent Magombe (African Writers Abroad PEN Centre) was set up, with the help of a grant from the Swedish Tucholsky Prize, and a survey of PEN centres involved in helping exiled writers was conducted. It was found that many centres were already assisting writers in exile with imigration/asylum procedures, integration, health, professional development and security. All centres involved with exiled writers expressed a need to exchange information with other centres and other organizations working on these issues as well as a need for greater efficiency.
The German PEN Centre became the first chair of the Network in 1999 until 2002.
This link outlines the situational and philosophical background behind the early work of German PEN and other centres:
http://www.pen-deutschland.de/htm/en/e_wie_network.php
In 2002, PEN Canada was elected Chair of the Network at the Congress in Macedonia.
