Why Work for PEN Page 16 Network

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Why Work for PEN Page 16 Network In numbers 2019 pen-international.org/who-we-are/governance/numbers PEN International in numbers 2019 1 Welcome page 1 Welcome Who we are - History page 2 What we stand for - (The Charter) page 3 2019 has been a year of growth for PEN International: in strength, in campaigning, in vision, in networking capacity. The United Nations Where we operate page 4 proclaimed 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages and PEN Our income page 6 celebrated with two major events. A meeting in Chiapas on translation and linguistic rights with the goal to promote all literatures without Our expenditure page 7 exception by Writing the Future in Indigenous Languages. The second was the PEN International Congress in Manila, under the banner Speaking in Our budgeted income for 2020 page 8 Tongues: Literary Freedom and Indigenous Languages, where the diversity of Filipino languages were experienced by all PEN delegates in the Our budgeted expenditure for 2020 page 9 presence of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Grants per region page 10 Fernand de Varennes. We evaluated the work for the whole period 2015–2019, which acknowledged Budgeted grants per region page 10 that our international community is stronger than ever, thanks to multiplying our presence through the Civil Society Programmes and Highlights per region page 11 regional network meetings in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 2020 Civil society projects update page 11 The protection of writers at risk in the face of an increasing number of authoritarian regimes and from the cruelty of non-state actors remains Key achievements 2019 page 12 a critical area of our work. This was reaffirmed in May 2019 through the joint conference in At Home Everywhere held in Rotterdam with PEN’s Theory of change page 14 Writers in Prison Committee and the International Cities of Refuge Why work for PEN page 16 Network. On 5 October 1921, when writer Catherine Amy Dawson Scott gathered In 2020 we shall... page 17 a small crowd of writers in the Florence restaurant in Soho to launch PEN, who could have imagined that it would grow into a network of Some words of hope and thanks page 18 more than 143 centres worldwide? Today PEN is present in more than one hundred countries across all continents, including representing Tibetan, Uyghur, North Korean, Vietnamese, Iranian, Cuban and Eritrean literatures in exile. As PEN prepares for its 100th birthday in 2021 with the deep conviction that our tradition of networking, debating and joint campaigning to protect and promote free expression remains as vital today as it was one hundred years ago. As a global network of writers, we are strengthened in our mission promoting literature and freedom of expression in all Use the camera on your corners of a world where too often writers face judicial harassment , smartphone to scan the hate speech, attacks on women’s and minority voices and the daily QR code and learn more about PEN International. violations of linguistic rights. PEN International in numbers 2019 1 Who we are - History ... and what we stand for - (The Charter) Over nine decades we In 1940, English PEN There is a cast-iron • Literature, knows no frontiers and must remain have become a genuinely published its ‘Appeal sculpture entitled common currency among people in spite of political international organisation, to the Conscience Witness by Antony or international upheavals. encompassing a wide of the World’ letter, Gormley, marking array of cultures and a passionate plea for our 90th anniversary, • In all circumstances, and particularly in time of languages, and today the the protection of standing outside war, works of art, the patrimony of humanity at large, overwhelming majority freedom of expression the British Library should be left untouched by national or political passion. of PEN International’s written by English in London 143 Centres come from PEN’s first woman outside Europe. Women’s president, Storm • Members of PEN should at all times use what rights are promoted by Jameson and influence they have in favour of good understanding centers participation co-signed by English and mutual respect between nations and people; they pledge themselves to do their utmost to dispel to PEN Women Writers writers including Vita PEN International Committee and PEN all hatreds and to champion the ideal of one Sackville-West, E.M. humanity living in peace and equality in one world. was started in 1921 has promoted peace in Forster, H.G. Wells, (then known simply countries like Bosnia, Mali, Vera Brittain, and as PEN) by Catherine Afghanistan or Sierra Rebecca West We were the first • PEN stands for the principle of unhampered Amy Dawson Scott as Leone through is Writers worldwide association transmission of thought within each nation and a way to unite writers for Peace Committee. between all nations, and members pledge themselves of writers, and the after the devastation to oppose any form of suppression of freedom of first organisation to point of World War I expression in the country and community to which out that freedom of they belong, as well as throughout the world wherever expression and literature this is possible. PEN declares for a free press and Our name was conceived as an acronym: ‘Poets, are inseparable opposes arbitrary censorship in time of peace. It Essayists, Novelists’ (later broadened to ‘Poets, believes that the necessary advance of the world Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, Novelists’) The first meeting towards a more highly organised political and economic order renders a free criticism of governments, of the PEN Club was administrations and institutions imperative. And held at the Florence since freedom implies voluntary restraint, members Joining with partners Restaurant in Soho pledge themselves to oppose such evils of a free press across the UK in the on 5 October 1921 as mendacious publication, deliberate falsehood and early 2000s, we distortion of facts for political and personal ends. successfully campaigned for the protection of artistic • The Board: The current governing board of PEN freedoms in response International is made up of our Executive Board Members of PEN in our first years included to the Racial and consisting of International President, Jennifer Clement, Thomas Mann, Rabindranath Tagore, Religious Hatred Act International Secretary, Kätlin Kaldmaa, International Victoria Ocampo and Tōson Shimazaki Treasurer, Eric Lax, and seven other Board members. 2006 2 PEN International in numbers 2019 PEN International in numbers 2019 3 Where we operate 143 centres around the world, networked from London North America South America Europe Africa Asia Australia 4 PEN International in numbers 2019 PEN International in numbers 2019 5 Our income Our expenditure January 2019 to December 2019 January 2019 to December 2019 How our income was generated 2019 How we used our income Centres engagement £474,000 SIDA grants £827,000 Support / administration £559,000 Other grants £230,000 Advocacy & research £68,000 Other income £1,407,000 and interest Other congress £1,653,000 £58,000 £71,000 Centenary expenses Circles funded from reserves £116,000 £67,000 Dissident blog /PEN/OPP Members due £50,000 £176,000 Civil society projects grant Our detailed, audited annual reports can be found at pen-international.org/who-we-are/governance/audited-accounts £163,000 Funders/Donors/Partners Board & governance It is with a resounding thank you that we celebrate the incredible support of our generous £61,000 donors, partners, and supporters. The continuous support of our funders has ensured our global influence and safeguarded our vital work with writers against increasing threats. Writers in prison Our donors make a significant impact on our work. We are immensely grateful for any £140,000 help we receive and rely on kind donations to deliver our civil society programmes and vital protection work. As always, PEN International’s commitment to the promotion of literature and fight for freedom of expression would not be possible without the valued support of our donors across the world. 6 PEN International in numbers 2019 PEN International in numbers 2019 7 Our budgeted income for 2020 Our budgeted expenditure for 2020 January 2020 to December 2020 January 2020 to December 2020 STAFFING AND GOVERNANCE SIDA Staffing and recruitment £739,000 £1,027,000 Fundraising major donors IT and administration £107,000 £177,000 Fundraising new trusts Board capacity building £250,000 £10,000 £1,352,000 Staff strategy training Fundraising one-off £19,000 £70,000 Board meetings and congress Screen £15,000 £24,000 Audit and consultants Publishers £54,000 £190,000 CORE ACTIVITIES Civil Society projects Writers £30,000 £155,000 £1,756,000 Congress Member dues £60,000 £158,000 NMFA Project Evan Cornish £2,000 £10,000 Community - Network meetings £53,000 Fritt Ord £403,000 £26,000 Other costs NMFA £28,000 £43,000 Dissident Blog ICORN £60,000 £88,000 ICORN £22,000 Other funders £21,000 Fundraising cost and volunteers & interns £23,000 8 8 PENPEN International International in innumbers numbers 2019 2019 PEN International in numbers 2019 9 Grants per region 2019 Highlights per region 2019 AFRICA AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN • PEN Eritrea in Exile, PEN Uganda and PEN • PEN Argentina ran a project aimed at Togo increased their capacity to reach and indigenous language promotion in schools. attract diverse audiences leading to greater Another project focused on sharing literature Europe participation in activities and events. across communities. • PEN Uganda runs creative workshops for • PEN Haiti created a website for the PEN £9,199 prisoners in some of the highest security Centre, helping attract new, young male and female prisons in the country. membership. • PEN Eritrea in Exile is running a project • PEN Centres mark Day of the Dead with a called ‘breaking the silence’ focused on range of activities, remembering journalists Asia supporting exiled Eritrean writers to tell who have been killed their stories.
Recommended publications
  • PEN Canada Annual Report 2012
    PEN Canada 2011-12 Annual Report This year’s annual report takes inspiration from PEN Canada’s recent focus on Mexico. As detailed in the essays that follow, this campaign was launched with an groundbreaking investigation into the war on Mexico’s journalists; PEN’s focus continued through its involvement in an historic delegation led by PEN International president John Ralston Saul. To recognize this important commitment, the pages of this report are inspired by two essential elements in the traditional Mexican Day of the Dead celebration: marigolds, the flower whose scent is believed to draw the souls of the dead back to earth temporarily, and tissue paper, which is used to make decorations in many shapes and styles. Throughout this report, you’ll find “Protestas,” short pieces originally read by their authors in Mexico as part of the PEN delegation. They serve as vital reminders of not just the predicament in that country, but the broader challenges facing free expression around the world. Contents 1 Foreword 2 President’s Message 6 Protesta: Is This Worth Dying For? 8 PEN International President’s Message 14 National Affairs Committee Report 16 Protesta: Gather In Solidarity 18 Honorary Members 26 Honorary Members Released 30 Writers in Exile Committee Report 34 Protesta: The Violence Must Stop 36 Western Canada Outreach Committee Report 38 Protesta: Defend Humanity 40 Writers in Prison Committee Report 46 Protesta: Free Expression Matters 48 Spotlight: Free Expression 50 Members and Supporters PEN Canada is a nonpartisan organization of writers that works with others to defend freedom of expression as a basic human right, at home and abroad.
    [Show full text]
  • Membership Pack November 2020 Scottishpen.Org
    Membership Pack November 2020 scottishpen.org Scottish PEN is a registered Scottish Charity with the charity number SC008772. Scottish PEN is a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Contents Welcome from Scottish PEN President ____________________________________________________ 3 Introduction ____________________________________________________________________________ 5 Scottish PEN 5 PEN International 6 PEN Charter ____________________________________________________________________________ 7 Women’s Manifesto _____________________________________________________________________ 8 Background Information _______________________________________________________________ 10 Constitution 10 Trustees 10 Staff 10 Office Location 10 Trustee Biographies _____________________________________________________________________ 2 Communication ________________________________________________________________________ 6 Website – www.scottishpen.org 6 Newsletter 7 Social Media 7 Lesser Wearie __________________________________________________________________________ 7 Ongoing Campaigns ___________________________________________________________________ 9 Defamation Reform 9 Protecting At-Risk Writers 10 Opposing Pervasive Surveillance Defending Human Rights 10 Hate Speech & Online Expression 10 1 Committees ___________________________________________________________________________ 11 Women Writers Committee 11 Writers At Risk Committee 11 Writers in Exile Committee 12 Writers For Peace Committee 12
    [Show full text]
  • PEN (Organization)
    PEN (Organization): An Inventory of Its Records at the Harry Ransom Center Descriptive Summary Creator: PEN (Organization) Title: PEN (Organization) Records Dates: 1912-2008 (bulk 1926-1997) Extent: 352 document boxes, 5 card boxes (cb), 5 oversize boxes (osb) (153.29 linear feet), 4 oversize folders (osf) Abstract: The records of the London-based writers' organizations English PEN and PEN International, founded by Catharine Amy Dawson Scott in 1921, contain extensive correspondence with writer-members and other PEN centres around the world. Their records document campaigns, international congresses and other meetings, committees, finances, lectures and other programs, literary prizes awarded, membership, publications, and social events over several decades. Call Number: Manuscript Collection MS-03133 Language: The records are primarily written in English with sizeable amounts in French, German, and Spanish, and lesser amounts in numerous other languages. Non-English items are sometimes accompanied by translations. Note: The Ransom Center gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provided funds for the preservation, cataloging, and selective digitization of this collection. The PEN Digital Collection contains 3,500 images of newsletters, minutes, reports, scrapbooks, and ephemera selected from the PEN Records. An additional 900 images selected from the PEN Records and related Ransom Center collections now form five PEN Teaching Guides that highlight PEN's interactions with major political and historical trends across the twentieth century, exploring the organization's negotiation with questions surrounding free speech, political displacement, and human rights, and with global conflicts like World War II and the Cold War. Access: Open for research. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to the Materials Use Policy before using archival materials.
    [Show full text]
  • With the Support of Developing the Minority
    with the support of Developing the Minority Language Creative Writing Industry in Kenya, Haiti, Serbia and Nigeria: An Inter-Regional Research, Advocacy and Development Programme Roundtable Meeting, London, 29 & 30 May 2014 Carles Torner, the Acting Executive Director of PEN International, with Professor Christopher Lukorito Wanjala from Kenya (left) and Oluwafiropo Ewenla from Nigeria (right) Background PEN International has been awarded the UNESCO International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) grant for the project ‘Developing the Minority Language Creative Writing Industry in Kenya, Haiti, Serbia and Nigeria: An Inter-Regional Research, Advocacy and Development Programme’. This 18-month project, running from May 2014 to November 2015, proposes to strengthen minority language publishing industries in Haiti, Kenya, Nigeria and Serbia through the identification of the main challenges and policy gaps affecting the publishing industry, the development of recommendations on the strengthening of cultural policies to promote minority language publishing industries and the development and strengthening of a network of key stakeholders working to promote minority language publishing industries. On May 29-30, PEN International organised a roundtable meeting on the theme of “Strengthening minority language policies and publishing” in London, the outcomes of which are intended to inform the research project. The first day of the meeting brought together PEN International staff members and representatives from each of the countries involved in the project (Haiti and Serbia were present through Skype, having not received visas into the UK in time). This was an opportunity to discuss the framework of the project and establish the four national contexts in which the project will develop.
    [Show full text]
  • A Guide to Defending Writers Under Attack
    A guide to defending writers under attack The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN ‘I have personally known writers who have chosen to raise forbidden topics purely because they were forbidden. I think I am no different. Because when another writer in another house is not free, no writer is free. This, indeed, is the spirit that informs the solidarity felt by International PEN, by writers all over the world’ Orhan Pamuk A guide to defending writers under attack: The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN Contents Introduction 3 Part One: What is International PEN? 6 International PEN Charter 7 Part Two: An introduction to the Writers in Prison Committee 8 How does the Writers in Prison Committee work? 9 Part Three: Joining the Writers in Prison Committee 12 Part Four: Who does the Writers in Prison Committee work for? 14 Case List 15 Part Five: The Writers in Prison Committee Activities & Resources 17 Honorary Members 17 Rapid Action Network 23 Writing Offi cial Appeals 27 Biennial Conferences 32 Campaign and Focus Actions 32 The Day of the Imprisoned Writer & other international days 34 Meetings with Ambassadors and Governments 36 Embassy Visits 37 Visits to your foreign ministry 37 Trial observations and other missions 38 Working with other NGOs 38 Approaching Intergovernmental organisations 38 Working with Writers in Exile 39 PEN Emergency Fund 39 Awards 40 Part Six: Media and Publicity: raising public awareness and infl uencing opinion 40 Part Seven: The Writers in Prison Committee and International PEN 44 Part Eight: Resources and Glossary 47 2 A guide to defending writers under attack: The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN September 2010 Dear colleagues in International PEN, It is a great pleasure to be able to present to you, at the 76th Congress of International PEN in Tokyo, printed copies of the Writers in Prison Committee’s handbook, A guide to defending writers under attack.
    [Show full text]
  • Membership Pack August 2020 Scottishpen.Org
    Membership Pack August 2020 scottishpen.org Scottish PEN is a registered Scottish Charity with the charity number SC008772. Scottish PEN is a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Contents Welcome from Scottish PEN President ____________________________________________________ 3 Introduction ____________________________________________________________________________ 5 Scottish PEN 5 PEN International 6 PEN Charter ____________________________________________________________________________ 7 Women’s Manifesto _____________________________________________________________________ 8 Background Information _______________________________________________________________ 10 Constitution 10 Trustees 10 Staff 10 Office Location 10 Trustee Biographies _____________________________________________________________________ 2 Communication ________________________________________________________________________ 6 Website – www.scottishpen.org 6 Newsletter 7 Social Media 7 Lesser Wearie __________________________________________________________________________ 7 Ongoing Campaigns ___________________________________________________________________ 9 Defamation Reform 9 Protecting At-Risk Writers 10 Opposing Pervasive Surveillance Defending Human Rights 10 Hate Speech & Online Expression 10 1 Committees ___________________________________________________________________________ 11 Women Writers Committee 11 Writers At Risk Committee 11 Writers in Exile Committee 12 Writers For Peace Committee 12 PENning
    [Show full text]
  • 26Th May 2013
    To: SA PEN Members E-Newsletter No. 9/2013 – 26/05/2013 THE SOUTH AFRICAN CENTRE OF PEN INTERNATIONAL A World Association of Writers P O Box 732, Constantia, 7848, Cape Town email: [email protected] (Secretary), [email protected] (President) www.sapen.co.za or http://www.facebook.com/southafricanpen CONTENTS: PEN Charter Studzinski Award – and the winners are..... April letter from John Ralston Saul, International President, to the PEN membership Publications received The Sunday Times Literary Award Shortlists Message to the Members of PEN from Laura McVeigh, Executive Director, 24/04/2013 English PEN - First Editions, Second Thoughts Forthcoming events ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PEN Charter Studzinski Award Our collaboration with Zambian PEN has successfully concluded with an awards ceremony held at the British Council, Lusaka, on the 16th March 2013. The winning students were Peter Nawa, 19, a student at Chongwe Secondary School, for his short story entry and Loliwe Phiri, 18, a student at Kabulonga Girls High School, for her poetry entry. The winners each received a Lenovo laptop computer. On average, 240 pupils participated in the mentoring programme which entailed four mentors making a total of ten visits to the four schools, three girls‟ schools and one boys‟ school. The creative writing competition was open to all PEN School club members in all the schools and covered poetry and short stories. The competition was administered by three independent judges, Nicholas Kawinga, Daniel Sikazwe and Malita Banda, all members of Zambian PEN, who selected the final winners from the 60 submissions received. Morgan Chipopu, Zambian PEN Project Manager reports: “We are happy with the way our competitions were administered.
    [Show full text]
  • Changing Kenya's Literary Landscape
    CHANGING KENYA’S LITERARY LANDSCAPE CHANGING KENYA’S LITERARY LANDSCAPE Part 2: Past, Present & Future A research paper by Alex Nderitu (www.AlexanderNderitu.com) 09/07/2014 Nairobi, Kenya 1 CHANGING KENYA’S LITERARY LANDSCAPE Contents: 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 4 2. Writers in Politics ........................................................................................................ 6 3. A Brief Look at Swahili Literature ....................................................................... 70 - A Taste of Culture - Origins of Kiswahili Lit - Modern Times - The Case for Kiswahili as Africa’s Lingua Franca - Africa the Beautiful 4. JEREMIAH’S WATERS: Why Are So Many Writers Drunkards? ................ 89 5. On Writing ................................................................................................................... 97 - The Greats - The Plot Thickens - Crime & Punishment - Kenyan Scribes 6. Scribbling Rivalry: Writing Families ............................................................... 122 7. Crazy Like a Fox: Humour Writing ................................................................... 128 8. HIGHER LEARNING: Do Universities Kill by Degrees? .............................. 154 - The River Between - Killing Creativity/Entreprenuership - The Importance of Education - Knife to a Gunfight - The Storytelling Gift - The Colour Purple - The Importance of Editors - The Kids are Alright - Kidneys for the King
    [Show full text]
  • 23Rd November 2013
    To: SA PEN Members E-Newsletter No. 21/2013 – 23/11/2013 THE SOUTH AFRICAN CENTRE OF PEN INTERNATIONAL A World Association of Writers P O Box 732, Constantia, 7848, Cape Town Nonprofit Organisation Registration Number 069-564-NPO SARS Tax Exemption Reference No. PBO930031735 email: [email protected] (Secretary), [email protected] (President) www.sapen.co.za or http://www.facebook.com/southafricanpen CONTENTS: Welcome to new members Book Launch – Dance with Suitcase by Dawn Garisch, 3rd December, Cape Town Message from Margie Orford, SA PEN Executive Vice-President, to the SA PEN membership – 22nd November 2013 SA PEN Press Release: 16/11/2013 - PEN South Africa commemorates International Day of the Imprisoned Writer, 15th November 2013 John Ralston Saul, President of PEN International is currently visiting Gauteng Africans must speak up for journalist jailed in Ethiopia, by Zakes Mda AERODROME calls for short story submissions ENGLISH PEN Press Release: Doris Lessing 1919 – 2013 Call for Nominations: 2014 IPA Freedom to Publish Prize. Deadline = 6th January 2014 Carapace Covers by Maryna Fraser Season‘s Greetings card address list - writers in prison or their families Publications received Press Release: New ticketing system for National Arts Festival Sillerman Book First Book Prize for African Poets – Deadline = 1st December 2013 Ethiopian PEN board members‘ training, Johannesburg, November 2013 2013 South African Literary Awards Message from SA PEN Vice-President Geoff Haresnape To read more about South African author, Masande Ntshanga... Forthcoming events Members‘ Publications: Dance with Suitcase: A Memoir resting on Movement, by Dawn Garisch +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A warm welcome to new members: Niq Mhlongo, Rachel Zadok and Barbara Nussbaum.
    [Show full text]
  • PEN International Impact and Learning Report 2015 to 2019
    PEN INTERNATIONAL IMPACT AND LEARNING REPORT 2015 - 2019 On the Frontline Defending Freedom of Expression and Promoting Literature Cover image: During PEN International Congress in Pune, India in 2018, delegates joined local students on a public wari travelling three kilometres over three hours in celebration of global languages. PEN is grateful to its many Overview 1 individual supporters and volunteers who make its 2015 to 2019 work possible including Swedish International 13 Development Cooperation Supporting Agency (Sida), PEN Writers at Risk Publishers, Writers and Readers Circles, International Cities of Refuge Network Challenging 29 (ICORN), the Norwegian Structural Threats Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), Clifford Strengthening 40 Chance, Fritt Ord and Evan Civil Society Cornish Foundation 55 PEN International Looking forward: Unit A - Koops Mill Mews 162-164 Abbey Street London SE1 2AN PEN International United Kingdom PEN International promotes literature and freedom of 2020 to 2023 expression and is governedby the PEN Charter and the principles it embodies: unhampered transmission of thought within each nation and between all nations. Founded in 1921, PEN International connects an international community of writers from its Secretariat in London. It is a forum where writers meet freely to discuss their work; it is also a voice speaking out for writers silenced in their own countries. Through Centres in over 100 countries, PEN operates on five continents. PEN International is a non-political organisation which holds Special Consultative Status at the UN and Associate Status at UNESCO. International PEN is a registered charity in England and Wales with registration number 1117088.
    [Show full text]
  • Carles Torner Interview 2018
    Linguistic Rights: An Interview with Carles Torner, July 2018 This interview forms part of the AHRC-funded ‘Writers and Free Expression’ project (see https://writersandfreeexpression.com/). Please do not reproduce all or any part of it without permission. If you wish to use this for academic purposes, be sure to cite this PDF and the project blog. Peter McDonald: I couldn’t help noticing that 2018 is an auspicious anniversary year in which to talk about PEN and the question of language rights and linguistic diversity. It is 70 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, and 40 years after the formation of PEN’s Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee in 1978. There are also some less decimally perfect dates worth recalling at the outset too: 22 years have passed since the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights in 1996, 17 years since the UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity in 2001, nine years since PEN’s Girona Manifesto on Language Rights in 2011, three years since its Quebec Declaration on Literary Translation and Translators in 2015 and two years since the Donostia Protocol of 2016. All these initiatives and documents are interrelated but I’d like to focus mainly on the 1996 Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights and its consequences. Before I do so, however, could I ask you to give us a sense of your own personal interest in these issues and some background on why it is you came to play such a key part as a champion of linguistic rights? Carles Torner: There’s another important date: it’s the 90th anniversary of the PEN International Congress in Oslo in 1928, where, from what I have read, it was decided that PEN Centres would be recognised not according to states but according to literatures.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact Case Study (Ref3b) Page 1 Institution: University of Warwick
    Impact case study (REF3b) Institution: University of Warwick Unit of Assessment: 29 English Language and Literature Title of case study: Creative Writing and the Public Sphere 1. Summary of the impact The Department has worked proactively to bring creative writing out from the institutional sphere and into the public domain. While creative writing is often perceived as a niche activity largely confined to university writing programmes, Warwick’s writers have broken new ground with their approach that writing can take all forms, that creativity is open to everyone, and that writing has the power to intervene meaningfully in the world. This commitment is demonstrated through a range of activities that include active involvement in campaigns for the freedom of expression, the foundation of distinctive literary prizes, widespread communication of interactive material through social media, and the establishment of new publishing houses and literary magazines. 2. Underpinning research Maureen Freely (1998-present) has published seven novels and translated five novels and numerous essays by Turkish author Orhan Pamuk as well as other Turkish writers. Her novel, Enlightenment (2007), set in Istanbul against the backdrop of a Turkish state increasingly intolerant of dissent, highlights the country’s poor democratic and human rights record. She translated My Grandmother (2008) – the memoir of a Turkish Human Rights lawyer who discovers that her beloved grandmother was a survivor of the 1915 death marches of Armenians – thereby bringing knowledge about the Armenian massacre by the Turks to the attention of Western audiences; in 2010 an excerpt was featured in Index on Censorship (a quarterly magazine for the charity of the same name.
    [Show full text]