PEN International’s Impact Report 2018

Dangerous Dissent Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny

PEN is grateful to its many individual supporters and volunteers who Overview make its work possible including PEN 2 Publishers, Writers and Readers Circles, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Norwegian Supporting Writers at Risk Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations 7 Democracy Fund (UNDEF), Clifford Chance, Fritt Ord and Evan Cornish Foundation 17 Challenging Structural Threats

PEN International Strengthening Civil Society Unit A - Koops Mill Mews 162-164 Abbey Street 22 London SE1 2AN United Kingdom Learning PEN International promotes literature and freedom of 31 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.

http://www.pen-international.org/ Overview Key Achievements of 2018 The lives of 92 writers at risk PEN published 5 reports on the 2018 represented another year of violent repression of writers, improved through solidarity actions freedom expression situation in journalists and citizens seeking to exercise their free expression as and campaigning, legal interventions Hungary, Russia, India, Turkey and states attempted to control narratives and suppress political dissent. and humanitarian assistance Venezuela, which have been used by PEN International and its global membership increased its efforts in PEN members in pressing for changes support of writers and journalists who continue to face harassment, 96% of writers who reached out last to repressive policies violence, criminalisation and even death in the pursuit of their work. year felt supported by PEN’s solidarity Positive judgements from the This report seeks to provide an overview of PEN’s most effective 15 humanitarian emergency European Court of Human Rights in campaigns and interventions over the year, highlighting some key grants given to individual writers at two cases from Turkey where PEN successes on behalf of individual writers as well as reflecting on how immediate risk, for relocation, essential headed interventions led to the PEN has sought to address some of the key challenges to free expression medicines, and other critical needs release of writers Mehmet Altan and Sahin Alpay across the world. The report reflects on some key learning points and PEN successfully supported 5 asylum draws on an independent evaluation undertaken through the course applications for writers threatened 27,551 young people, writers, of 2018. The evaluation of PEN’s work over the past four years provides with deportation or stranded in journalists, academics, teachers, useful recommendations aimed to strengthen the organisation’s refugee camps parents, community members effectiveness, they will be fully considered by PEN’s Board and staff and human rights activists have through a strategic planning process from 2020 to 2024, in early 2019. 14 writers released from prison and participated in PEN Centre projects The new strategic plan shall set out PEN’s vision and programme 8 writers were acquitted or had around the world promoting literature leading up to, and beyond, its Centenary year. charges were dropped as a result and free expression of PEN’s campaigning 4 issues of the Dissident Blog Rapid Action Network Alerts calling on published works from 45 writers 20,000 PEN members to take action on across the globe on challenges to behalf of persecuted writers, involved free expression more than 59 PEN Centres lobbying government officials, writing letters Ilkyaz a literary website for young of solidarity, organising vigils and writers in Turkey published 18 writers protests, with 52 PEN Centres taking between the ages of 10 and 35, action on social media reaching 63 countries

PEN’s Women’s Manifesto launched Training provided to 16 writers from to promote the free expression of 8 PEN Centres across Asia, equipping women; scores of PEN Centres from them with new skills, knowledge around the world translated it into and networks local languages and held events to mark Women’s Day 5 new PEN Centres formed, 3 in countries with shrinking civic space, 150 African writers and human rights Guinea Bissau, Iraq and Russia advocates signed PEN’s petition highlighting concerns about the use of defamation laws to silence critics Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Overview

Women are disproportionately silenced in a variety of ways across the world, both online and offline. PEN International joins This ranges from a lack of access or denial of education, to self- protests in a year that saw censorship due to harassment, to the doubling of killings of sexual harassment, assault, and journalists violence. In the digital sphere, acts For women to have free of harassment and threats of sexual In a year that saw the doubling of murders of journalists and physical violence are also in retaliation for their reporting, PEN International and rampant. These risks often lead the its member Centres added their voices to the protest, speech, the right to read, removal of women’s voices and are, issuing statements, staging vigils and joining with other ultimately, a denial of their right to free media organisations to call for justice. the right to write, they need the basic and fundamental right Most high profile among the murders was that of Jamal to free expression.’ Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist brutally murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. Margie Orford, Board member, to have the right to roam PEN International In Bangladesh, the murder of Shahzahan Bachchu, a 60-year-old publisher, poet and blogger on secular issues was murdered in his home village of Kakaldi on the outskirts of Dhakaan is an indication of the dangers physically, socially and To mark International Women’s Day: that writers who challenge religion continue to face in the country. Bachchu, known for his secularist writings • Launched its digital campaign #ReadWomenPEN, had reported having received many death threats since intellectually. through which PEN, along with advisors who helped 2015. He joins the growing list of Bangladeshi secularist develop the manifesto – including Kamila Shamsie writers, publishers and bloggers who have been murdered and Caroline Criado Perez – recommended women since 2015 and for whom there has yet to be justice. writers on social media throughout international In Denmark, in November, former gang member, PEN International, along with its Centres across the women’s day Nedim Yasar, was shot while getting into his car after a globe, has been rising to meet the challenges that women book launch reception at the offices of the Danish Red and girls face. In 2018 PEN International launched its • Scores of PEN Centres all over the world held and Cross in Copenhagen. Yasar had been celebrating the Women’s Manifesto, a set of principles which aim to participated in events, translated the Women’s release of a book about his life, Rødder - En Gangsters protect free expression for women by combating and Manifesto and conducted public readings. Udvej (Roots: A Gangster’s Way Out), co-authored with eliminating the silencing of women worldwide, whether journalist Marie Louise Toksvig. He died the following day, through censorship, harassment, or violence. • PEN Honduras and PEN International spoke before the Tom Lantos Commission in the US Congress on coincidentally the same day his book was published. The Manifesto has been a rallying point for both PEN the issue of violence against women journalists and Centres and other organisations to progress the rights the need for greater protections. of women whether in education, publishing and literature or free expression. Since its launch the manifesto has PEN launches its Women’s • PEN engaged an impressive number of supporters been the foundation of PEN’s partnership with VIDA: Manifesto promoting the from the literary world and general public shared Women in Literary Arts. In 2018 VIDA announced a new their recommendations about women writers and collaboration with PEN – the PEN VIDA Count – to monitor free expression of women were exposed to our manifesto, including Giaconda gender disparities in literature through PEN Centres Belli, William Dalrymple , Neil Gaiman, Lisa across the globe. The VIDA count highlights imbalances In the manifold varieties of violence Appignanesi and many more achieving our best in publishing by collecting data across genre, book – from murder and domestic social reach figures in months – reaching 17.2 reviews and journalistic by-lines, offering a gender-based violence, to stolen girls who are sold million people with our #ReadWomenPEN assessment of the publishing world. and trafficked, to female students recommendations and Women’s Manifesto at universities who are rated and PEN’s Women’s Manifesto has also received the support Watch PEN members reading and speaking about the of many notable figures and organisations, including Her slut shamed on social media – one women’s manifesto here. Royal Highness Princess Nandi of the Zulu Royal House; common result is to silence the voices of women and hamper the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon; United Nations This is really excellent, and an Women; and Moomin Characters Ltd. transmission of their words and enormously useful corrective. stories leaving unfilled pages and I find the speech debate in the US impoverished literatures. This distressingly narrow and arid at manifesto is our commitment, as the times. I have just shared it. world’s largest writers’ association, to achieve gender equality.’ Nic Dawes - media director of Human Rights Watch (92K followers) Jennifer Clement, President, PEN International

3 4 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Overview

Eritrea continues to be a key focus of PEN’s work, and In Russia, the authorities continued to use anti-extremism one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which legislation to prosecute and convict bloggers for online to be a journalist or writer. Free expression is in a dire expression, particularly regarding Russian activity in state, and there are currently at least 16 journalists held Ukraine. They refused to free Ukrainian writer and in circumstances amounting to enforced disappearance, filmmaker Oleg Sentsov from jail despite an international without charge or trial. The 2018 peace deal between campaign for his release. Kirill Serebrennikov, one Eritrea and Ethiopia, the consequent opening of the border of Russia’s most prominent theatre directors, remains between the two countries, and the lifting of UN sanctions under house arrest on allegations of fraud regarding the against Eritrea gave some hope that the Eritrean regime use of state funds, which he denies. Many artists and might itself become more ‘open’. However, by the year’s intellectuals in Russia have expressed doubts about the end, nothing had changed in Eritrea. grounds for the prosecution, and claim instead that it is politically motivated, framing it in light of the Russian Internet shutdowns, especially around election time or authorities’ curbing of dissenting voices during protests, restricted the free expression of writers, journalists and ordinary citizens of many countries in In Spain, the authorities used the so-called 2014 ‘Gag Law’ 2018, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, to prosecute summary offences or misdemeanours, such Zimbabwe, Chad, Sierra Leone, Sudan and others. as graffiti, song lyrics and poems, as crimes of terrorism or arms trafficking. On 20 February, the Supreme Court Just one example of the use of laws circumscribing the upheld the sentence of rapper Valtònyc to three and a use of social media is that of academic and women’s half years in prison on charges of insults to the Crown, rights activist Stella Nyanzi who was prosecuted under glorification of terrorism and making threats. Uganda’s 2011 Computer Misuse Act for writing rude messages about President Museveni on Facebook; Prosecution remained a key means of silencing dissenting her trial is ongoing and she is still on remand at time of voices in Asia and the Pacific in 2018. Across the region, Entrenched repression - writing. Her fellow Ugandan, the singer Moses Nsubuga criminal defamation, sedition, obscenity, and national (aka Viboyo) was also charged under the same security provisions provide for long periods of pre-trial legislation in 2018 for allegedly calling the president a detention and heavy prison sentences can serve to foster “pair of buttocks.” a climate of self-censorship. While there have been the criminalisation of some welcome early releases, these remain exceptions A string of killings drew international condemnation and to the norm. raised concerns about media freedom across Europe and Central Asia. The number of deaths is the highest Cultural repression intensifies in China. Uyghur PEN in writers and impunity recorded in the region in recent years, with four of the five moving testimony at PEN’s Congress spoke of China’s murders carried out within the European Union, a stark crackdown on Turkic Muslims, largely Uyghurs from the illustration of the growing hostility, threats and violence Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), who have faced by writers and journalists. Slovak journalist been detained en masse and without charge in political world-wide Ján Kuciak and his girlfriend Martina Kušnírová were re-education camps under the pretext of countering found shot dead after he wrote an article linking politicians religious extremism. to the mafia. Although four individuals were eventually Overbroad and vaguely-worded national security PEN’s Case List recorded the cases of 205 individual writers In Nicaragua government reforms to social security charged with their murder, those who ordered the attack provisions are frequently used to stifle dissenting voices noting significant barriers to free expression around the sparked waves of wider anti-government protests. have yet to be brought to justice. Ukrainian journalist, in countries such as China, India, Myanmar and world. In the Middle East and North Africa States continue In response, the authorities and pro-government groups anti-corruption activist and rising politician Kateryna Viet Nam. The case of Burmese writers Wa Lone and to forbid certain forms of expression, in particular criticism launched a campaign of repression, violently attacking, Gandziuk succumbed to her injuries after being targeted Kyaw Soe Oo, served with seven-year sentences, of religion and political authorities as well as writing about arbitrarily detaining, harassing and bringing charges in an acid attack in July. Human rights groups criticised illustrates how states utilise such legislation in an attempt sexuality. Governments particularly continue to block or against the protesters and independent journalists. the lack of effective investigation. In Bulgaria, journalist to prevent investigative reporting on sensitive issues. reduce internet services, mainly in response to protests or at Others were subjected to smear campaigns, such as that Viktoria Marinova was found dead on 7 October. the time of political events such as elections. In July 2018, carried out against writers and PEN members Gioconda She had been raped and murdered. the internet disruption by the National Security Council has Belli, Yaser Morazán and Pierre Pierson. As the year drew Turkey continued to be the biggest jailer of journalists in prevented Iraqi journalists and activists from reporting the to a close, the repression showed little signs of abating as the world. At least 160 writers and journalists remained news of peaceful protests against the Iraqi government to the authorities expelled two missions of the Inter-American behind bars by the end of 2018. On 2 October, aggravated the rest of the world. My.Kali a digital magazine promoting Commission on Human Rights tasked with monitoring and life sentences against writers and journalists, brothers LGBTQI rights in Jordan, continuously blocked since investigating events. Ahmet and Mehmet Altan were upheld on appeal, just July 2017 by the Jordanian Audio-visual Commission, is another of the many examples of Turkey’s complete just one of the examples of governments preventing and In Africa writers, journalists, and human rights defenders disregard for international protections for freedom of criminalising writings and publications dealing with sexual continued to face persecution throughout 2018. expression to which it has pledged it commitment on the orientation and sexuality. Repressive legislation, threats, violence, arbitrary arrest and dubious prosecutions were among the tools that one hand, yet ignores on the other. The Americas continues to be the region where journalists (mainly) state actors used to suppress dissenting voices. are at most risk, with Mexico continuing to be the most In addition to this, there were internet shutdowns and dangerous country of all. PEN joined protests against ‘social media taxes’. However, there were also some the murders of those who had been killed in 2018. welcome developments.

5 6 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Supporting Writers at Risk

Effective Campaigning Dareen Tatour, a Palestinian poet, spent more than two years in detention, first in an Israeli jail, then under house In 2018, PEN’s work saw some positive outcomes for arrest before being released on 20 September 2018. writers affirming the impact of our campaigning and the Tatour’s conviction is mainly related to a video, which importance of solidarity work. PEN carried out strong she posted on YouTube, in which she recites one of her and consistent campaigning throughout the year, with poems entitled, ‘Qawim ya sha’abi, qawimhum (Resist, increased PEN Centre involvement and an increase in the my people, resist them)’. She had been the subject number of positive changes in focus cases compared to to extensive advocacy by PEN members world-wide recent years. This had corresponded with an influx of new against what PEN considers to have been a gross denial high-profile supporters engaging in PEN’s campaigning of Tatour’s right to freedom of expression. PEN spoke to work and an eight per cent increase in press engagement. Tatour following her release, watch the video here. Charges dropped – https://youtu.be/BEJVpUZ-JnE Writers Released I have been receiving your letters for a while. Each letter day, I get so many As a result of persistent campaigning by our global membership 23 writers imprisoned or facing criminal letters from PEN members and I am charges for solely exercising their right to free engulfed by very beautiful feelings. expression had charges dropped or were released I suppose in places such as these from prison. Among them academic and writer where everything is banned, only the Sulak Sivaraksa accused of Lèse-majesté in Thailand, strength of a single pen they cannot Chinese poet and artist Liu Xia, who was released from resist and hence give up. However, house arrest into exile in Germany; Vietnamese blogger they are also aware that this is a great and activist Me Nam (Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh) was force. It is because they know that released on condition of exile with the remainder of her sentence suspended. writing is a magical force that they are left hopeless against it. And I, in your Others have been PEN main cases, such as prominent person, enjoy the defeat that those who Ethiopian blogger and journalist Eskinder Nega, who have jailed me have demonstrated. was released in February 2018 after spending more than I can feel myself with you, always and six years in jail serving an 18-year prison sentence on perhaps this is why I never feel helpless. terrorism-related charges. Supporting This is thanks to you. Thank you very much for the membership you have Thanks for the tremendous support granted me. PEN International gave me during my Zehra Diyarbakır, E Type Prison imprisonment. Each word from PEN Writers at Risk was a morale booster not only to me and my family but also to the whole democratic movement in Ethiopia. Artist and journalist Zehra Doğan was released from prison in Turkey in early 2019, after serving over five hundred PEN International has been working at a grassroots level to protect, Ethiopian blogger and journalist Eskinder Nega days behind bars. Doğan was sentenced to two years, nine shelter, and resettle writers at risk globally since the Second World War. months and 22 days on a charge of ‘propagandising for a PEN’s protection work includes research and advice, direct assistance terrorist organisation’ for her work as a painter and journalist. Doğan should not have spent a single day in prison. to writers at risk, solidarity actions, international campaigns and PEN’s role in leading third party interventions in two cases Doğan’s plight gained international attention when she advocacy. In partnership with other organisations, PEN can provide before the European Court of Human Rights resulted in the was featured in two PEN campaigns. Ai Weiwei’s letter small emergency grants, support asylum requests and assist with Court ordering the release of writers Mehmet Altan and to Doğan to mark Day of the Imprisoned Writer generated requests for temporary relocation and access to legal help. Sahin Alpay from prison in Turkey. The court found that the global media coverage, and led to Banksy featuring Doğan journalists’ detention was unlawful under the right to liberty in his New York City mural. ‘Zehra Dogan has been protected by Article 5 (1) of the European Convention. released and she finally has her freedom to continue to The European Court endorsed the January 2018 ruling of be an artist and human rights activist. At the same time, Turkey’s Constitutional Court, which held that there was we must remember all those political prisoners that still not sufficient evidence to keep the defendants in detention remain in custody across the world. We strongly support and ordered their release. The rulings are the first by the them and demand their freedom. We must continue to court in the cases of journalists arrested and detained on support the cause of individual freedom, freedom of charges in relation to the failed 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. speech and the work of a free and independent press. They set an important precedent for the other cases of We must continue to work together in protecting human 154 detained journalists in Turkey. rights and human dignity,’ Ai Weiwei, artist and activist.

7 8 A Deteriorating Climate: Repressive Laws Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny

PEN International has been beside me since the beginning Writers Situation and they have done everything possible to change my situation and get me out of there. PEN’s Improved assistance was not limited to financial support. It included technical assistance and Types of support PEN provided: psychological support. During those desperate times, the words they shared with me were a source of strength and hope. International It is something I will never Rapid Actions PEN Asylum High Level forget in my life. Cities of Refuge Solidarity TOTAL (see below) Emergency fund support Advocacy Ethiopian Journalist Betre Yacob Getahun Network on PEN’s ongoing support.

NUMBER OF WRITERS NUMBER OF WRITERS NUMBER OF WRITERS NUMBER OF WRITERS NUMBER OF WRITERS NUMBER OF WRITERS NUMBER OF WRITERS WITH +ve CHANGES WITH +ve CHANGES WITH +ve CHANGES WITH +ve CHANGES WITH +ve CHANGES WITH +ve CHANGES WITH +ve CHANGES TO THEIR SITUATION TO THEIR SITUATION TO THEIR SITUATION TO THEIR SITUATION TO THEIR SITUATION TO THEIR SITUATION TO THEIR SITUATION Knowing that you and the members of PEN are still with me is giving me the courage to fight this battle! Your support and as well as the support of all the 23 15 22 5 25 2 92 members of PEN is my biggest treatment. And your solidarity is

FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE my biggest courage A writer who was granted asylum in AFRICA AFRICA AFRICA AFRICA AFRICA AFRICA AFRICA 2018 with PEN’s support. 6 3 1 0 3 3 13 ASIA 11 ASIA 3 ASIA 3 ASIA 2 ASIA 0 ASIA 3 ASIA 19 No matter what the price AMERICAS 2 AMERICAS 1 AMERICAS 2 AMERICAS 0 AMERICAS 3 AMERICAS 1 AMERICAS 9 or consequence might be, we will never compromise from EUROPE 0 EUROPE 3 EUROPE 0 EUROPE 1 EUROPE 17 EUROPE 3 EUROPE 22 the magical creations of writing and of the written word. We MENA 4 MENA 5 MENA 16 MENA 2 MENA 2 MENA 5 MENA 29 would like to repeat once again our gratitude to PEN members, One-o grants given to support writers at immediate risk, leading to one writer being able to purchase essential who have stood by us on this Rapid Actions medicine, one being able to pay school fees and rent and enabling 13 to pay for subsidence and/or relocation Writers at risk who have been granted an International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) placement for a path. E•orts by PEN make us Released 7 two-year residency providing shelter, support and a literary platform happy, boost our morale. Released into exile 3 We are grateful. Released, but rearrested 2 see left Released, but charges remain 2 News editor, reporter and poet Nedim Türfent is Charges dropped 5 Provided letters of support for writers at risk leading to them being granted asylum serving a prison sentence of eight years and nine Acquitted 3 Writers who have sent PEN messages, thanking us for the support we have provided through letter writing months in prison on trumped-up terrorism Award winning book published 1 and campaigning leading to improved conditions or morale charges following an unfair trial, during which scores of witnesses said they had been tortured TOTAL 23 High level interventions leading to a positive change in the situation of the writer at risk into testifying against him. 9 10 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Supporting Writers at Risk

President, Vladimir Putin, and share Sentsov’s ‘birthday card’. Messages of support under the “Keeping Score 2018” banner reached over 27.5 million readers through Twitter around the time of the World Cup. Hundreds of writers took part in the online campaign, including Stephen Fry (reaching 2.6 million people), Ken Loach, Neil Gaiman, Elif Safak, and Peter Tatchell. Other well-known supporters of his case include Margaret Atwood, Tom Stoppard, Mike Leigh and Svetlana Alexievitch.

Dear Oleg, I write to you today in the hope that this letter reaches you somehow. I know that you are not receiving your letters. It is too cruel a Centre campaigning has been consistent and collaborative. thought to imagine that you lost your PEN Romania, Czech PEN and Danish PEN held screenings freedom so suddenly and without of Sentsov´s film, ‘The Trial – The State of Russia Vs Oleg Sentsov’, and Norwegian PEN met with the Russian cause that you are kept so far away ambassador in September 2018. Promoting literature and from your family and children, that freedom of expression even as they’ve taken everything To capitalize on a summit held in Helsinki between Donald Global action for from you, they won’t allow even Trump and Vladimir Putin in July 2018, Finnish PEN and PEN persecuted writers beyond the prison walls our words of support to reach you. America organised a public event on freedom of expression They fear our words; they fear the and literature, highlighting Oleg Sentsov’s case. Scores of Day of the PEN’s campaign for the Finnish writers and musicians attended the event, and read knowledge that across the world, Sentsov’s short stories. They were joined by Oleg Sentsov’s Imprisoned Writer release of Oleg Sentsov people are allied to your cause. I am cousin, Natalia Kaplan. PEN America also made him the writing in the hope that one day soon recipient of the Freedom of Expression award. Two of our Each year on 15 November, PEN highlights the cases Emblematic of PEN’s campaigning for writers in prison, you will be free and able to see how Russian PEN Centres, PEN Moscow and PEN St. Petersburg, of five persecuted writers, be they imprisoned, facing the campaign for Oleg Sentsov’s release harnessed the many of us have stood with you from sent Sentsov messages from his supporters throughout the prosecution or otherwise at risk. The cases are strength of PEN’s network and its important and unique role the beginning, that we read the news year, and since September 2018 PEN Moscow has held emblematic of the type of threats and attacks faced by of providing solidarity to writers persecuted for their work by looking for your name, that we fear a daily protest outside the Presidential Administration in writers and journalists around the world. On this day, our promoting their literature. Moscow, with PEN members and other civil society actors Centres and members worldwide stand in solidarity with the worst but never surrender our on three-hour rotation, showing their support to Ukrainian Ukrainian writer and filmmaker, Oleg Sentsov, is currently their colleagues and call on those responsible to end hope. I want you to see the impact prisoners, including Sentsov. their persecution. In 2018, PEN highlighted the cases serving a 20-year prison sentence on spurious terrorism of your determination and sacrifice of Dawit Isaak, Miroslava Breach Velducea, Oleg charges after a grossly unfair trial by a Russian military court, on so many around the world. Alongside its digital campaigning and solidarity actions, Sentsov, Shahidul Alam and Wael Abbas for the Day of marred by allegations of torture. Sentsov recently spent 45 PEN International partnered with Uilleam Blacker, at the days on hunger strike, calling for the release of all Ukrainian The clumsy lies and maneuvering the Imprisoned Writer. For the solidarity campaign, PEN of the Russian authorities only University of London, to publish original translations of three secured the support of Arundhati Roy, Tom Stoppard, prisoners imprisoned in Russia on politically motivated of Sentsov’s short stories, which have been read by more David Lagercrantz, and Khaled Hosseini in the form of grounds. He ended his strike on 6 October 2018, as he renews our resolve. In their than 10,000 unique visitors to PEN’s website. The stories letters to imprisoned writers. All the letters were published feared being force-fed. PEN International believes that Oleg attempts to silence you, what they were viewed especially widely in Ukraine, which for the by the Times Literary Supplement and Roy’s letter to Alam Sentsov is imprisoned because of his opposition to Russia´s have done is amplify your voice month of July constituted PEN’s sixth largest audience. garnered international media attention including wide occupation and illegal “annexation” of Crimea and calls on across borders. Today you exist in publication across India and Bangladesh. the Russian authorities to release him immediately. a cell that must feel soundproof. By sharing and promoting Sentsov’s writing and filmmaking through its network of renowned writers, PEN has ensured 2018 was a year of consistent global campaigning, raising If only you could know that all that his voice is heard beyond the prison walls, speaking to Sentsov’s profile in the literary world and leading tohim around the world people are calling a wider, more international audience and helping to raise receiving two prestigious awards. Sentsov was also a focus your name, decrying the behaviour awareness not only of his of plight, but also of the relentless case for PEN International’s Day of Imprisoned Writer in of the Russian government, and crackdown on freedom of expression in Russia. November and was featured as an empty chair in numerous calling for your freedom. PEN meetings across the world. Hundreds of PEN members from 24 PEN Centres actively called for Sentsov´s Your courage gives us all courage. release by sending appeals to the Russian authorities, We need you. Don’t give up. organising events, taking part in solidarity campaigns and protests, organising film screenings, coordinating petitions, Svetlana Alexievich collating messages of support and taking part in social media actions. To celebrate Sentsov’s 42nd birthday a social media campaign encouraged PEN members and high-profile supporters to tweet messages to the Russian

11 12 Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Supporting Writers at Risk

PEN’s protection work Dear PEN, continues to be critical in I am a Kurdish writer from Syria. changing the lives of writers Since more than three years, after persecuted for their writing. an evening when I met members from PEN Netherlands, I am thinking Through its grassroots network of writing you a letter to thank you. of Centres and other partners, Some years ago – it was winter - I PEN provides specialist advice, was chased by the Syrian intelligence emergency grants, temporary services because I criticized the relocation, and professional Assad regime in my articles. support to persecuted writers. I was forced to flee from Syria These and other solidarity to Turkey. At that time, relations between Ankara and the Assad Solidarity - a lifeline actions give hope and strength regime were strong and very close to writers facing imprisonment, and warm. The Turkish authorities Milagros Socorro, award refused me to stay on Turkish other persecution and exile, winning journalist and territory and I had to go to a border supporting them to continue writer: a strong voice on city. My situation was very difficult with their writing and work, and they threatened to catch me freedom of expression in sometimes over many years. at any time. I broke my relationship Venezuela The messages of thanks show with the Turkish authorities and how a short-term intervention the UNHCR because it had been Award winning journalist and writer Milagros Socorro is a Freedom of Expression Award, bestowed in recognition infiltrated by Turkish and Syrian strong and eloquent advocate for freedom of expression of a writer’s significant contribution to free expression in can have life-changing intelligence agencies. I have asked in Venezuela. In a recent interview, Milagros said; “PEN is the face of persecution. After being awarded the prize, impact and lead to long-term for help from PEN International an institution with a hundred years’ history. It is the voice Milagros was offered an ICORN placement in Europe, of writers across the globe. The voice of all languages. which she will be taking up in early 2019. For more on engagement with PEN. for moral and financial aid. PEN The cry of the persecuted. More than important it is our work on Venezuela see below. Emergency Fund (from Dutch PEN) fundamental. Whatever the language, ideology, political gave me a grant of € 1,200. That or social position of a writer, if they are in danger, they The PEN International network amount, that financial subsidy, can count on PEN International. You don’t know what has helped, which already says a lot. helped me to escape from Turkey that means until you suffer persecution at the hands of For a long time, we were knocking to a Western country. a totalitarian regime. Then, the mere idea that something like PEN exists helps you to sleep at night.” on doors of the world and no one As I said, my situation was very seemed to believe the gravity of serious and difficult. I had no In Venezuela, faced with threats to their freedom and our situation. The support of PEN nationality, identity, passport or safety – and forced by the political, economic and International means a lot to us. PEN Emergency Fund humanitarian crisis into prioritising securing life’s basic account number and was threatened To me particularly, it has given needs over creativity – writers and journalists face a stark me the opportunity to meet with The PEN Emergency Fund, continues to be of crucial by arrest and deportation from choice: express oneself freely and risk being targeted, importance for assisting writers who have been persecuted Turkey to Syria. So the money was self-censor or go into exile. colleagues from across the globe and are in acute need. The Fund provides one-off grants transferred to a friend in London. and explain what is going on in of up to 1,250 for a range of emergency assistance I have been living in that Western Milagros Socorro is one of those who continue to speak Venezuela. I have attended two measures which include safe passage – flights, visa country since eight years. I have a out in the face of extreme adversity. In 2016, ICORN alerted international meetings, in Buenos fees, travel insurance – medical assistance, and general residency and I will soon have my new PEN’s protection team to the persistent harassment Aires and in Pune, India, and in both support towards living expenses. Managed by PEN The Milagros was facing in connection to her writing, PEN Netherlands, the Fund works closely with PEN International citizenship. provided an assessment to ICORN in order to give her a I worked intensely to make contacts, with whom I maintain contact, even and operates with minimal overhead; the communication Since my arrival in that country break from the stifling free expression climate. However, friendships, not just to explain lines are short. The money can quickly be transferred to the I have published several books. due to the disparity between the number of writers writers who need it, sometimes on the day of application, applying to ICORN and the number of host cities, she the situation in Venezuela but to One book was translated into Western and the financial support by the Fund has saved lives. was struggling to find a placement. Throughout this time exchange our works. For us it is languages. Now I am a member of In 2018, 15 humanitarian emergency grants were provided PEN was in constant contact providing ongoing fundamental that we shake off the PEN. I cannot forget your help to me, to individual writers at immediate risk. moral support. As threats increased against Milagros, isolation that the dictatorship has so I want to thank you again. PEN issues several solidarity actions to raise tried to impose on us. awareness in the international media. To bolster her With my heartfelt thanks and chances of being placed by ICORN, PEN nominated Milagros Soccoro best greetings, Milagros for the Oxfam Novib/PEN International PEN Venezuela

Anonymised

13 14 Supporting Writers at Risk

financial assistance from Bangladeshi writers in the wake of UNHCR Global Compact the killings of several secular bloggers there since February Strengthening 2015, reflecting the restrictive freedom of expression on Migrations climate in the country. There are several factors which make PEN has contributed to the UNHCR Global Compact it especially difficult to assess risk in certain Bangladeshi on Migration consultation on Refugees and Migrants, cases, and we continue to benefit enormously from the including through formal submissions and participation specialist language and research support from Mojibur PEN’s protection and in stakeholder meetings. We have utilised these Doftori of Finnish PEN on an ad-hoc voluntary basis. opportunities to conduct advocacy in relation to our The increase in demand for PEN’s expertise is putting policy calls on complementary pathways to resettlement support networks a considerable strain on the protection team’s already (eg. ICORN and other temporary relocation models) in stretched resources. Moreover, only about a quarter of order to address the need for protection which is not applicants can be placed through the ICORN network. Going being met by existing mechanisms, and increase access The number of writers with long-term protection needs is imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of forward, PEN is working with ICORN to address resourcing to legal routes to travel for writers such as humanitarian growing, and PEN is keen to address this by developing expression and their human rights work, and exiled writers issues in order to meet the increase in demand for research visas for and access to freedom of movement for artists prevention-oriented protection measures which aim to build in Egypt face considerable problems and little protection. expertise, as well as supporting ICORN in extending its own and cultural activists. safe spaces and enabling environments for writers to work. networks of City partnerships, encouraging more Centres to Requests for assistance from Turkish writers also remained Ahead of the intergovernmental meeting to adopt work with ICORN in hosting, and proactively seeking other Strengthening our partnership with ICORN: Through our high in the wake of the failed coup attempt in July 2016. the Global Compact on Migration in Marrakesh, PEN relocation options outside the ICORN network. cooperation with ICORN, PEN’s knowledge and expertise Although Turkey’s two-year long state of emergency was International and ICORN brought together a group of on protection has been greatly enhanced and our networks lifted on 18 July 2018, a new law enacted on 31 July with In order to meet the challenges in placing writers with diverse, renowned writers to explore the protection with partners in the field strengthened. However, there is a the view to continue the fight against terrorism, valid for ICORN and the difficulties of organising safe and timely needs of writers who need to migrate and to challenge need to better resource this work. three years, codified emergency decrees into permanent relocations PEN has been exploring with PEN Centres how public perceptions of migration. Former ICORN Guest The number of cases of writers at risk seeking temporary law. Media pluralism continues to be gravely undermined. they can increase their support to writers at risk in their writers Asieh Amini (Iran) and Abduljabbar Alsuhili residency presented to PEN for comment in 2018 was At least 160 writers and journalists remained behind bars own regions. In February 2018, PEN conducted a research (Yemen) joined PEN staff at a side event in Marakesh. 132, which is 25 per cent increase on the number by the end of 2018 and more than 190 media outlets and mission to Lebanon to meet with stakeholders as part of a Abduljabbar Alsuhili also spoke powerfully at a side presented in 2017. publishing houses have been closed down. The situation needs assessment to determine the feasibility of creating meeting of the Mayoral Forum about the need for more is also at breaking point for the large numbers of ICORN a Make Space protection hub with the PEN Centre. shelter cities to join the ICORN programme (watch The highest level of applications (55 per cent) came from applicants in exile in Turkey, mostly in southern Turkey, Whilst there are a large numbers of refugee writers in his video here). Following the event, German cities the Middle East and North Africa region with the greatest many of whom are without status, unable to work and Lebanon, particularly from Syria, most are without status and Mannheim & Heidelberg reaffirmed with ICORN their proportion coming from Iran, which has consistently high without hope of resettlement. The suspension of the live in severe economic hardship and insecurity, without hope wish to join the network. numbers of writers in prison and where minorities – in UNHCR resettlement programme by President Trump’s of resettlement. particular Kurdish writers - are amongst those targeted for Executive Order on 27 January 2017 has adversely peacefully expressing themselves. The number of Iranian affected their situation. PEN has recently learned with The mission concluded that PEN Lebanon, whilst very writers requesting protection has been consistently high alarm that as of September 2018 the Turkish government supportive and enthusiastic, does not currently have in recent years, and is increasing. Applications to ICORN has taken over UNHCR registration of asylum seekers in capacity to lead such a project. With only a handful of active Whilst the trip made it clear that PEN Lebanon is not from Iran accounted for 30 per cent of all cases presented Turkey. Although the full impact of this is still unclear, it members, it would not be able to develop a sustainable and currently able to take the Make Space project due to to PEN for comment during the year, and the need for appears that this is placing certain people at risk of arrest effective hub for writers at risk at this time. The mission lack of capacity of the Centre, it is a model which can an in-house Persian-speaking specialist is now acute. and deportation. was nonetheless, successful in building partnerships and be adapted to other locations and is currently in the final Elsewhere in the region, writers are particularly at risk for meeting writers waiting for ICORN placements. stages of development with PEN Uganda. reporting on conflict, human rights violations and political Significantly the number of applications from Bangladesh In order to assist PEN Lebanon to forge new partnerships, Through a series of workshops, most recently at the Pune turmoil, and continue to flee Yemen, Libya, Iraq and have reduced considerably since 2016, however PEN PEN met with several NGOs working with Syrian refugees, Congress, PEN’s protection team is bringing Centres Syria in large numbers. Many Egyptian writers have been receives regular requests for protection, relocation and including the International Refugee Assistance Project together to share their experiences of working with (IRAP) which provides free legal assistance, referrals to the writers at risk in order to develop expertise and share UNHCR and alternative pathways to resettlement. Fruitful good practice. discussions were held on casework issues, sharing of 2018 2017 The strategy for PEN’s protection work going forward Number of applications received good practice regarding screening and interviewing will be further developed by the Protection team, PEN traumatised individuals. As a direct result of the meeting, 140 International staff and the Board in March and April 2019. PEN referred to IRAP a case of a Syrian Kurd who has been in Lebanon since 2008, awaiting placement by 120 ICORN or refugee resettlement via the UNHCR. In long- Knowing that you and the members of PEN are still with me is giving me 100 term limbo, unable to work and in medical need as a result of torture, IRAP took up his case with the UNHCR the courage to fight this battle! Your 80 for priority resettlement. support and as well as the support of PEN undertook in-depth interviews with a number of all the members of PEN is my biggest 60 approved ICORN applicants living in exile in Lebanon treatment. And your solidarity is my about their needs and their perceived risk. Meeting ICORN biggest courage. 40 applicants, face-to-face, provided an important opportunity An ICORN writer who received asylum to gain first-hand information about the situation on the 20 support from PEN 2018 ground for exiled writers in Lebanon, especially Syrians (11 per cent of ICORN assessments delivered in 2018). Africa Americas Asia Europe MENA Total

15 16 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Challenging Structural Threats

Criminal Defamation laws continue to be applied across the globe to silence critics.

The threat of criminal sanctions that such laws provide inevitably deter media investigations into and reporting of issues governments consider sensitive or embarrassing, such as high-level corruption, official malpractice or law-breaking, thereby facilitating official secrecy and undermining accountability. In many cases, where journalists, editors or publishers have refused to be cowed into self-censorship by these criminal defamation laws, they have been subject to arrest, detention, prosecution and long drawn out trials, and sometimes imprisonment for months or even years. Challenging PEN’s work to end the Structural Threats criminalisation of speech Decriminalising has garnered some Defamation in Africa Challenging successes with writers The campaign to decriminalise defamation across Africa saw welcome developments in 2018 and early 2019 from across the world as various African countries moved to repeal criminal campaigning for repeal defamation legislation. In May 2018, criminal defamation was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of of criminal defamation. Gambia and the High Court of Lesotho; in September 2018, Structural Rwanda also decriminalised defamation when it revised its In Africa, in particular, Penal Code. In February 2019, Liberia decriminalised libel.

PEN has been able to Throughout 2018, PEN pursued its work through move the debate forward training and advocacy before African institutions such as the Pan African Parliament (PAP). PEN Centres were Threats on criminal defamation, invited by the Committee on Human Rights and Justice to run a workshop based around the importance of seeing some strong repealing criminal defamation laws. The delegation met Global Action to Defend legislative changes. with parliamentarians to present the PEN report Stifling Dissent, Impeding Accountability: Criminal Defamation As highlighted in the external evaluation, the ‘area that Laws in Africa, which examines in detail the chilling impact Free Expression has probably seen the greatest impact is the work to that these laws have on freedom of expression generally decriminalise defamation in Africa … our assessment and on the work of writers and journalists particularly. is that it is really solid work … sorely needed and based Some of PEN’s African delegates had no experience of PEN’s mission to defend free expression compels us to challenge on local partnerships.’ The evaluation recommends that engaging with PAP, and so found it a very useful learning PEN pursues and develops the criminal defamation work, experience; the representative from PEN Nigeria said that structural threats and repressive policy and practice. building on the successes and learning. he learned that working with PAP was more “strategically important in Africa” than he had previously thought. PEN has been successful in facilitating writers to participate in PEN South Africa’s representative identified a challenge international and regional institutions to advocate for repeal of for future advocacy; this was “the need for further sensitization, since PAP member states currently perceive repressive law and practice. In 2018, PEN published five reports to criminalisation as the preferred, most viable and effective expose violations of free expression in Hungary, India, Russia and means of discouraging defamation.” This representative also stressed the importance of “having personally Venezuela as well as a comparative report on the stifling impact of connected with key PAP representatives”, whom she Criminal Defamation laws in Africa. Robust research enables PEN said she would “endeavour to bring on board as allies in to articulate its policy recommendations which we pursue with law advancing the cause.” makers at the highest level. In April 2018, the president of PEN Gambia presented a petition to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’

17 18 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Challenging Structural Threats

Rights (ACHPR), calling on African states to abolish Calling For Repeal of Criminal Human Rights (the IACtHR) in the case of Tulio Álvarez criminal defamation and ‘insult’ laws. Led by African v Venezuela. The case concerns the use of criminal Speaking truth Centres, a petition was signed by over 150 African Defamation at the UN Human legislation, including harsh and wide-ranging penalties, to writers and NGOs, including Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Enoh stifle freedom of expression. Tulio Álvarez, a Venezuelan Meyomesse, Adelaziz Baraka Sakin, Ahdaf Soueif, Rights Council constitutional lawyer and university professor was criminally to power Tsitsi Dangarembga and Ismaila Samba Traoré. convicted of “ongoing aggravated defamation” in respect On 20 June, PEN brought together a global panel at the The ACHPR welcomed the petition and PEN’s oral of a newspaper article alleging the misappropriation PEN members from across 38th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. statement which called on all state parties to explain of funds from the National Assembly’s Workers’ and Andrew Caruana Galizia, son of a Daphne Caruana Galizia, the globe representing what steps they were taking to repeal criminal defamation Retirees’ Savings Bank. The criminal case against him was assassinated Maltese journalist, opened the panel with a legislation; ensure that defamation was addressed solely brought by a former congressman, and then-president of speech describing the impact that the dozens of vexatious the voices of their country as a matter of civil law and that associated fines were not the National Assembly, who Álvarez had suggested was defamation suits had on her mother during her lifetime, excessive; immediately and unconditionally release all responsible for the misappropriation of the funds. Álvarez at international and in particular those initiated by London law firms. David journalists and others detained or imprisoned on criminal was sentenced to two years and three months in prison Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur Freedom of Expression regional bodies defamation charges; and discontinue all prosecutions in in 2005, and disqualified from holding public office. When highlighted the threats and development of defamation criminal defamation cases. his sentence of imprisonment was later suspended, he was laws globally. Dina Meza, President of PEN Honduras barred from leaving the country during the probationary then described the personal costs of defamation cases, As a result of PEN’s support, Africa’s PEN Centres period that replaced the suspended prison sentence. reported that their ability to conduct research and outlining in particular the damage that these cases had for undertake advocacy had been greatly strengthened. investigative journalism in her country. Guatam Bhatia, a Álvarez took his case to the Inter-American Commission Members from Zambia and Sierra Leone reported that defamation lawyer and member of PEN Delhi described on Human Rights (the Commission), arguing that the the project had helped raised their Centres’ profiles, and the failure to reform defamation in India and the ongoing Venezuelan state had violated his rights to freedom of that, as a result, PEN had become a point of reference threats it poses to democracy and free expression in the expression, fair trial, freedom of movement and his political in their respective countries on criminal defamation. country. Dr Danson Kayhana of PEN Uganda situated rights under the American Convention on Human Rights. PEN Sierra Leone had been invited on to radio defamation laws within the wider repressive legal context The Commission found in favour of Álvarez in 2017 and programmes to discuss the matter and PEN Zambia in Africa. Finally Jonathan Price, a barrister at Doughty referred the case to the IACtHR. In doing so it noted that had been invited to meet with the Minister of Justice Street Chambers in London and counsel to the Caruana criminal prosecutions for defamation of public officials and on a number of occasions: “The project gave us the Galizia described the growth of the defamation industry on matters of public interest had become a worrying trend confidence to engage with politicians.” amongst London law firms. in Venezuela, resulting in intimidation and self-censorship disproportionately affecting freedom of expression. More broadly, according the PEN Sierra Leone On the frontline of free representative, the project had contributed to an The amicus brief submitted by MLDI, PEN International, amplification of the voice of civil society: “Civil expression – Venezuela PEN America, PEN Mexico, PEN Quebec, Media Law society has come together” around the issue, he said. Resource Center, Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa The representative from PEN Zambia said that the As the humanitarian and freedom of expression situation (FLIP), and Human Rights Watch highlights the increasing opportunity to engage beyond the domestic level, at a became more acute, PEN visited Venezuela to carry international recognition that criminal defamation laws are Dina Meza, award- regional and international level, had contributed to a more research into the freedom of expression situation in the incompatible with international standards on freedom of complete understanding of the problems engendered by country with the view to supporting local writers and expression. The intervention argues that criminalisation of winning journalist, human the criminalisation of defamation. Both representatives revitalising the dormant PEN Centre. speech should be a measure of last resort in exceptional rights defender and stressed the positive impact of engaging with other PEN circumstances, limited to instances of hate speech and Through interviews with writers, journalists and NGOs, Centres that were involved in the project: “We knew we incitement to violence, and that criminal defamation laws PEN’s report examines the impact of restrictive legislation president of PEN Honduras were not alone and that we could ask for support from should be abolished to prevent abuse of such laws, such and severe state repression on freedom of expression. another country if we needed it.” In the coming year, as in Álvarez’s case. Finally, the intervention notes that Dina Meza, president of PEN Honduras and Darwin These include the declaration of a new state of exception African PEN Centres will be pursuing their strategy on even civil defamation laws can have a chilling effect on Gonzalez, lawyer for PEN Honduras met with the and economic emergency, which grants extra powers to the issue by strengthening and building new partnerships freedom of speech if penalties imposed are overly harsh. team of Edison Lanza, IACHR Special Rapporteur the executive to repeal human rights through “special with journalists’ associations, labour unions, the film on Freedom of Expression concerning the case and forceful measures”; the passage of the Anti-Hate and music industries, social media companies and legal of Julio Ernesto Alvarado, executive member of Law for Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence; the issuing organisations. Going forward PEN members agreed PEN Honduras who was granted precautionary of a decree authorising government surveillance and to that PEN’s advocacy should continue to focus on measures in 2013 on PEN’s request. PEN has been censorship online; the refusal to renew the licenses of radio regional bodies such as African Union institutions, since, advocating for this case to be referred to the Inter- broadcasters, leaving them in legal limbo; the decision by in general terms African leaders were more sensitive to American Court as a test case on the question the National Telecommunications Commission to order outcomes from regional bodies than from international of whether a journalist can be suspended from 54 broadcasters (49 national, 5 foreign) off the air; more mechanisms; it was also agreed that there was a need to their licenced profession for criminal defamation. than 70 legal proceedings enacted by the government, expand the focus to sub-regional bodies and institutions The Special Rapporteur has confirmed he will among them the recent case of Armando.info. Also, the such as the Economic Community of West African support the case before the Court. In August, the ongoing restrictions on printing paper have, according States (ECOWAS) and the South African Development Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to the Venezuela Press and Society Institute forced 35 Community (SADC); finally, it was thought potentially conducted a full mission of all commissioners to newspapers to cease circulation in the period 2013-2018. useful to consider developing, in coalition with other Honduras where they met with PEN Honduras. civil society organisations, an NGO-driven information- As a direct result of PEN’s work on Venezuela, PEN The case of Julio Ernesto Alvarado v Honduras sharing platform which could then be used as the basis International and seven other free speech organisations, has now been referred to the Inter-American Court for joint activities with other organisations on a case-by- including PEN America, PEN Mexico and PEN Quebec, of Human Rights. case basis. filed an amicus brief before the Inter-American Court of

19 20 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Challenging Structural Threats

China:

Tienchi Martin-Liao, Independent Chinese PEN Centre, spoke on freedom of expression issues at the China UPR pre session in April 2018 “During the discussion, a New Zealand diplomat raised his thought and asked the speakers: what can we do more, since Chinese authority does not implement the recommendations from the UPR of 2013? I used the opportunity to speak out the “frustration” and said, this is exact the question which we want to ask UPR and the diplomat missions, what’s the use of the recommendations, when the targeted country Presenting Freedom of has only deaf ears for it? Well, we have to continue Expression Concerns and to deliver the recommendations, somehow it does have some subtle impact to the government - it is the Recommendations to common consent of all.” States at the UN Universal Result: 40 states raised 38 Periodic Review recommendations on freedom of expression in line with PEN’s PEN presented 7 Universal Periodic Review UPR reports reports to the United Nations on focus countries: Mexico, China and Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Malta, Eritrea and Ethiopia resulting in a total of 60 direct recommendations to states. 13 writers were supported to speak at international and regional institutions from Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, Eritrea: Eritrea, China, Honduras, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Mexico, Malta, Yemen and Russia Daniel Mekonnen, PEN Eritrea in Exile, presented leading to improved relationships with duty bearers PEN’s UPR at the pre-session in December 2018 and increased understanding of how to engage with “The one thing I consider different about the UPR human rights bodies. process, including the pre-session event, is that it offers a good opportunity in terms of spotlighting major misrepresentations made by the Eritrean Government Strengthening in its official State Party Report, thereby offering to the States to have a balanced view on the real situation of human rights in Eritrea. For human rights activism, Russia: I consider networking one the most important tools that help in advancing a cause. The UPR pre-session Nadezda Azhgikhina, PEN Moscow I found it on Eritrea was very important in this regard. It helped Civil Society extremely useful. It was my first time in the UPR us make new alliances with like-minded civil society process. In any case it gave diplomats more information organisations that are willing to help in different ways about International NGOs cooperation with Russian in infusing additional energy to the momentum of NGOs, and impression about trends and challenges, struggle of ending impunity in Eritrea.” Increasing Spaces for Expression cases and faces from Russia. I also think that our focus on culture - and development of International dialogue Result: 45 states raised 6 in culture - was also very important. It will give us more PEN International strives to create new spaces for free expression energy and hope in our everyday activities. It is very recommendations on freedom of important to know that we have support. PEN Moscow expression in line with PEN’s UPR engaging Civil Society using literature as the vehicle to enhance deals with so many cases, and it is important to know reports participation in debates around freedom of expression and other rights, that our voices could be heard internationally. to encourage critical thinking and empower those who have no voice. Result: Out of the 13 missions that we directly lobbied, 11 took up our In 2018, PEN Centres continued to reach new audiences through online recommendations. In total, 36 Member platforms, public events, events in schools, universities and at literary States made recommendations in line festivals. Themes covered at these events included the rise in hate with our UPR submission. speech, freedom of expression of women, linguistic rights.

21 22 PEN’s Civil Society Programme 2018 Myanmar Ages of participants Participants: [where stated] 595

Wales Kurdish PEN Philippines 0 - 16 17 - 26 27 + Uganda Age Participants: 70 Participants: 52 Participants: Impact Score Participants: 60 600 FEMALE MALE Inclusive spaces exist for literature, language, debate and ideas to flourish, 5 enhancing freedom of expression policy Age Age Working with and practise Age writers to develop Age their free expression A variety of languages, identities and/or expertise to enable 4 opinions are actively participating in them to e­ect spaces created by the Centre FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE change in di­erent FEMALE MALE Diverse range of people feel included The Gambia FEMALE MALE communities around 3 and engaged by the spaces created the country, with a Working with Kurdish Provided focus on by the PEN Centre Growing its visibility, Providing prisoners Improving the communities across psychosocial marginalised groups Some opportunities have been created Wales, facilitating partnerships and with 'hope of a support to Yidtizi teaching of local 2 by the Centre for young and/or diverse cultural dialogue membership second chance' children and women language literature voices to have a platform and increasing through literary through its creative through creative in schools and public awareness of events on freedom writing workshops in writing workshops in universities across 1 PEN Centre isn’t creating opportunities or the challenges of expression issues high security male Internally Displaced the country spaces for civil society to express itself Kurdish people and female prisons People camps

Guinea Togo Eritrea

Participants: Participants: Participants: 51 23,038 3,085

Age Age Age

FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE Nigeria Zimbabwe Empowering exiled Taking books and Successfully broken Eritrean writers to creative writing into the Togolese Growing its visibility, Growing its visibility, share their stories to workshops to literary landscape, partnerships and partnerships and raise awareness of schools and with its innovative membership membership freedom of communities that and popular through literary through literary expression situation lack resourses to creative writing events on freedom events on freedom in country encourage reading workshops for of expression issues of expression issues and critical debate young people 23 24 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Strengthening Civil Society

PEN’s Civil Society community centres to us] For example the head of Lalish and writing contests from which best works shall be Community Centre said “Your project is called ‘We Are All selected will be promoted and published in various media. Programme Ezidies’, and we have actually felt this through the approach PEN Eritrea considers the project an essential vehicle to and practice of all those who have helped in this project…” provide Eritrea writers with the confidence and the support PEN Civil Society programme includes a small grants they need to tell the story of freedom of expression in Eritrea, scheme for its PEN Centres to engage new audiences for Wales PEN Cymru worked with Kurdish communities inspiring and providing hope to younger generations and free expression, particularly in countries where threats to free across Wales, facilitating cultural dialogue and increasing those whose voices remain repressed in Eritrea under the expression are curtailing civil society spaces. Since 2015 public awareness of the challenges faced by Kurdish harsh regime. over 32 PEN Centres have participated in the programme people. Feedback from participants who took part in a and in 2018, PEN Centres continued to develop and initiate number of workshops, events and performances was strong and impactful projects across the globe. “I can’t believe so many people from so many different IMPACT ethnic groups like English, Welsh, Kurds all got together” Yirgalem Fisseha Mebrhatu was the first Eritrean writer PEN Uganda, PEN Philippines and PEN Eritrea added a and “I have been a part of a project by PEN, everyone to receive support and mentorship through this project. new dimension to their two-year project; PEN Uganda has knows it is an important organisation and helps oppressed Yirgalem Fisseha is a household name in Eritrea. Arguably extended its creative writing workshops to new prisons people and our Kurdish language is oppressed, we are one of Eritrea’s finest women poets, a radio presenter, outside Kampala, PEN Philippines is continuing to train oppressed”. teachers of local literatures and to advocate for curriculum and short story writer. She suffered six years of arbitrary change so that the diversity of Philippine literature is PEN Togo used its grant to successfully break into the detention in the country’s most notorious military prison, a taught in schools; and PEN Eritrea is empowering the Togolese literary landscape, with its innovative and popular fate many Eritrean writers share because of their profession. voices of exiled writers (see case study below). Kurdish creative writing workshops for young people. It will be In February 2009, Radio Bana, where Yirgalem worked PEN, PEN Myanmar, PEN Togo, PEN Guinea and Wales continuing and expanding its project in 2019. The Centre was raided by the military who took more than 30 staff PEN Cymru are supporting young people from diverse has been focusing on supporting young writers by linking members and journalists into custody. The majority were backgrounds to have the confidence to speak up in public them up with established Togolese authors, organising released after four years, but Yirgalem and five others were forums leading to increased public awareness of free ‘master classes’ and writing workshops in schools in the released after six years without trial. While in custody, she expression and other rights and encouraging increased capital Notsè. The project is soon to be expanded to other Creating became an iconic and symbolic figure of those detained cross-community dialogue and understanding. regions of the country. PEN Togo said, “we are happy to unlawfully by the Eritrean regime. Her case was covered have reached so many young people in such a short time… by PEN International (and she was included on PEN’s Case Strengthening Civil Society Our last writing workshop brought together more than 100 List), as well as by other organisations such as RSF and students in one room, which was very encouraging. In the Spaces for Index on Censorship. Inclusive, fertile spaces exist for near future, we should absorb a large number of young Following her release, Yirgalem left Eritrea in March 2018 and literature, language, debate, dialogue memberships, it will strengthen the gains and build on them” to flourish, enhancing freedom of moved to Uganda. As she had to leave her home abruptly expression policy and practice. PEN Guinea has been taking books and creative writing Literature without any preparation she was dependent on hand-outs workshops to schools and communities that lack resources, from friends and family; in April 2018 she received a grant In 2018, 12 PEN Centres created spaces for literature, encouraging reading and critical debate and delivering from the PEN Emergency Fund for immediate subsistence. language, debate, dialogue, ideas and opinions for 27,551 creative writing and reading workshops. One of PEN Guinea’s PEN Eritrea: With support from PEN Eritrea Yirgalem recorded her tributes individual young people, writers, teachers, community workshop facilitators has written a story of change in which Empowering exiled voices to Eritrean writers and journalists still languishing in Eritrean members, inmates and duty bearers of which 12,537 a shy, female student is encouraged to take a leadership prisons. The recordings were broadcast by two widely are female and 15,014 are male. The infographic on role – “She encouraged the girls in her school to join the PEN Eritrea in Exile, formed in 2013, has used its civil known Eritrean radio stations operating in exile; Radio SBS, pages 23 – 24 illustrates the breakdown of the participant library. And put at the head of each working group a girl. She society seed funding to develop its online presence an Australian-based and UK-based Radio Assena both have demographics, as well as the extent to which each Centre created with her fellow girls, a newsletter, and began to raise through a website to grow and connect its membership, extensive audiences including inside Eritrea. has achieved the overall aim of the programme. awareness of the members of the Parents Association and reach Eritreans across the globe, and to gain credibility friends of her school, for a better involvement of women in as an authoritative voice on freedom of expression issues Yirgalem’s poems and a first-hand account of her Kurdish PEN provided ‘talent development workshops’ the daily management of school affairs” concerning Eritrea for NGOs, civil society actors and the experience in prison, were published on PEN Eritrea’s and psychosocial support to Yidtizi children and women media. The website, which is visited by around 9,000 website. Each instalment of her account has been viewed through creative writing workshops in internally displaced PEN Nigeria, PEN Zimbabwe and The Gambia PEN visitors each month from more than 125 countries and nearly 40,000 times, with every part of her story published, people camps in northern Iraq. The Centre reported: “We are running projects aiming to grow their visibility, has become a go to space for organisations including she has received hundreds of shares on social media. at Kurdish PEN centre and all our partners in this project membership and partnerships through literary and Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch are privileged to see the positive changes in the skills and freedom of expression events. and Amnesty International, who have sought out PEN In an interview with PEN, Yirgalem commented: “I felt abilities of those we have served directly in the project... Eritrea’s expertise as a result of the rigorous and credible honoured by the immense love and companionship I [The community has] opened their religious, social and writing and reporting. have received from all corners. Partly I believe I was able to overcome my inherent fear that just being a writer is a Having built a platform for Eritrean voices, the Centre is now potential crime that was widely felt by the young generation building on their successes through a new project which of Eritreans. As a writer the honour you receive is not provides one-to-one mentoring, editorial and moral support exclusively yours. It motivates generations of writers. This through creative writing workshops in Uganda, Israel and, also inspires me to uphold my passion and dedication to digitally, aiming to empower Eritrean refugee writers to tell the writing profession.” Read the full interview here. their stories. The PEN Centre report that “many talented writers have chosen to keep silent for fear of retribution by PEN Eritrea said: The CSP fund allowed us to stand on the regime in Eritrea while many more lose their bearings our feet and gave us the confidence that we are not due to lack of support in countries where they live.” The alone in this strenuous fight against worst enemy of the project shall encourage writing through the workshops free press and free expression.

7 26 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny ChallengingStrengthening Structural Civil ThreatsSociety

Literature & Expression – surely trying to censor new digital media. Media that contain uncomfortable truths are shut down and writers The Voice of Young People are silenced by intimidation and reprisals. The Dissident Blog provides a unique space for such voices to be in Turkey heard.

İlkyaz, a literary platform for young voices in Turkey Working closely with PEN International, the Dissident launched in December 2018, aims to nurture a non- Blog (DB) published total of 45 texts in four editions: # political, mutually beneficial space in an era besieged 25 Hungary, 10 texts; # 26 Arabic literature in exile, 11 by divisions. Ege Dündar, PEN International’s Turkey texts; #27 A room of One’s Own, 12 texts; #28 Venezuela, Consultant, said one of the major concerns for the project 12 texts. was the prospect of slander, troll attacks on social media or harassment. ‘Thankfully, we have experienced none such In 2018, the DB was nominated for the “Cultural magazine thing. On the contrary, all the feedback has been positive. of the year” in Sweden, together with four other magazines. The website provides a remedy to the continuously and It was nominated with the following recognition: “Digitization viciously shrinking space for freedom of expression in creates new conditions for spreading messages, opinions, Turkey, especially since the coup attempt of 2016’. thoughts and ideas to people all over the world. At the same time, there are counter-trends everything from troll Since its launch the website has provided an opportunity for manufacturers’ spread of alternative facts and false news 18 writers, nine previously unpublished, between the ages of to more direct gagging at journalists and social debaters 10 and 35 to publish their work and receive feedback. who suddenly find themselves in an increasingly totalitarian environment. The Dissident Blog gives those - who do not İlkyaz publishes works and shares via its platform and have the opportunity to describe their time and their reality across social media, as well as with PEN International’s - a voice.” global network, to nurture young talent and provide inspiration for literary ambitions. As one of their contributors Strenghtening PEN 2018 saw a significant increase in engagement of the Farabi Orhan, described: “As of today I saw that my piece Dissident blog - 12.8 per cent increase in users, 16.99 was published and I was very honoured. It became a major per cent increase in the number of times people have motivation source for me to write new articles and share visited the DB and 17.96 per cent increase of page what I’m writing. The honorarium that was paid into my Centres to be Effective views (number of visits to a particular page). account today also became a light of hope for me that one day I can earn my living by being a writer. I thank all of you Doaa Arch, Palestine // immensely.” Wrote for #27 Civil Society Actors Wide media coverage from journalists in Turkey, Turkey PEN and PEN International’s wider network, has ensured that “Perhaps you cannot imagine the meaning of being a woman in this Eastern society, whose women are fighting from the very beginning lkyaz is reaching its target audience, Knowledge Sharing with 3,200 visitors on launch day alone. Since December in every way. I do not receive any support from anywhere. they have recorded an additional 2.9K visitors which they No one pays attention to my presence or what I do, your PEN members have come together throughout the year Writers from Nigeria, The Gambia, Togo, Zimbabwe consider to be significant particularly for a literary portal. magazine was the first place I can publish in, and the first to share their experiences, their success and challenges. and Malawi visited local partners and schools, spoke place get me appreciation. Thank you for making me in At PEN’s Congress (Pune), at Committee meetings (Bled with teachers and learners to explore the challenges and The lkyaz team are now pursuing outreach with schools, some way alive. You have published an article for me; and Bienne), and through regional network meetings effectiveness of PEN Sierra Leone’s work. Members were to encourage submissions and promote the platform, with this is the first true voice in my life. I’m so marginalized (Buenos Aires), hundreds of PEN writers came together impressed by the strength and number of the Centre’s young writers groups such as Fanzin Apartmanı and with here that no one even knows I’m there. I hope to publish to discuss freedom of expression concerns across the partnerships supportive of their projects. PEN Sierra prominent literary figures in Turkey such as Mine Söğüt, some of my poetic poems in your magazine someday. world as well as the challenges they face to counter them. Leone’s approach to working with schools, the provision Ece Temelkuran who have expressed their support and Thanks again” PEN’s writers are a volunteer movement, the sharing of library books and training for school club facilitators agreed to work with us to enhance our platform. of experiences and Centre-to-Centre support is critical to provided rich learning for Centres. The challenges of Fedosy Santaella, Venezuela // our effectiveness. running a large number of school clubs highlighted the Wrote for #28 need for greater resources, particularly to enable timely The Dissident Blog PEN has enhanced its members’ leadership skills monitoring and evaluation of their work. PEN Sierra Swedish PEN’s online platform for “…I am deeply grateful that there are still spaces where through exchange visits and bespoke training, on a Leone’s experience in working closely with the State and dissident writers - a space where freedom of expression is a priority, and where the effort range of issues from research and advocacy to project local NGOs helped inform sister Centres of the importance literature, otherwise censored, is of the collaborators is rewarded, not only with excellent planning, incorporating gender and diversity awareness. of working in partnership. translation and editing, but even with a symbolic payment published; providing analysis and that means much more than what is worth. That shows the A Centre exchange event hosted by PEN Sierra Leone in Members of the exchange trip reported that they would comment from those on the front line respect that is given to the word, to the writing and to the Freetown, for 5 African PEN Centres, enabled PEN Centres be applying the learning from Sierra Leone to their own of repression suffering of many.” to share the experiences and challenges around Centre contexts. “The trip was very useful for understanding governance, attracting new members and running projects. how to deal with struggles in project management and It has never been so easy to publish or make your voice The format of the Dissident Blog is currently under review PEN Sierra Leone has been part of Civil Society Programme the importance of establishing a partnership networks. heard as it is today. Through websites, blogs and social with an aim to increase its reach and effectiveness as an for over 10 years, during which time it has used its grants to The ‘Sierra Leonian’ example is in that way very instructive.” media people all around the world have been been given on line platform for silenced voices. A strategy will be promote literature in education, creative writing and critical Renaud Ayi, PEN Togo Project Coordinator a platform to speak. However, at the same time as new finalised to ensure the Blog is fully integrated with PEN thinking through clubs in over 40 schools in metropolitan doors have opened totalitarian regimes are slowly but International’s work as an online presence in 2019. and rural areas.

27 28 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Challenging Structural Threats

Enhancing skills: developing We held an initial meeting with the Kurdish community in Newport, South effective and sustainable Wales, to try and establish how we as programmes an organisation could best work with them to support their language and Since 2016 PEN has been developing resources and culture. The women at this meeting has designed a bespoke training package to enhance felt very strongly that they wanted the skills of our members. Project planning: articulating something that was for them and a vision, understanding contexts, mapping outcomes; so we concentrated on organising understanding and analysing impact; running participatory creative writing workshops, fundraising and good workshops for women. governance were the themes addressed at PEN’s third Wales PEN Cymru workshop for PEN Centres in the Asia region. Hosted by PEN Philippines, 16 PEN members from nine Centres The workshops, consultations with community members, negotiation across Asia shared their experiences of running civil society Showcasing the projects with those at the genesis stage of new initiatives. with other stakeholders and service Previous participants in PEN’s training Danson Kahyana, providers have promoted dialogue work of PEN Centres PEN Uganda, and Shirley Lua, project coordinator of and cooperation in society in general Philippine PEN’s civil society project facilitated sessions but especially the involvement of Seven PEN Centres – PEN Uganda, PEN Philippines, killed in Mexico, Brazil and Honduras – the strategic focuses of our work for the past 5 years – Centres were on needs assessments, gender and diversity, participatory women in all this was another gain PEN Lebanon, PEN Bosnia & Herzegovina, PEN Zambia, monitoring and evaluation tools and project planning. PEN Malawi and PEN Sierra Leone - received small encouraged to raise other cases too. towards changing the concept of the grants to showcase their work through short films. Participants reported that one of the most useful society about the different roles of Raising awareness of their work is helping Centres to The result was the engagement of several centres that sessions was on gender “[one of our key learning] is women in society. increase their membership and visibility in their countries have not previously participated, including: PEN Haiti, PEN thinking about gender when planning and engaging with Guadalajara, PEN Venezuela, and Cuban Writers in Exile Kurdish PEN and through the PEN Network globally. PEN’s Civil Society different activities”. YouTube playlist has been viewed 488 times to date. PEN. The events ranged widely from public installations PEN Centres also improved their websites and their online featuring the building of altars, public readings, protests, PEN members welcomed the training as noted by PEN’s presence - PEN Myanmar launched its website in August processions, roundtables, and debates with audiences external evaluators: All the participants and resource- 2018 and increased its social media engagement, including ranging from 30 to estimates of 1,000 at PEN San Miguel’s people I spoke to, without exception, were very enthusiastic PEN Zimbabwe, PEN Nigeria and The Gambia PEN, all on Facebook. public installation and information stall in the heart of the city. about these workshops. Participants interviewed used displayed a strong understanding of the need to plan Several Centres saw the event as an opportunity to raise the adjectives such as ‘inspiring’, ‘reviving’, ‘revelatory’, ‘free of project activities with gender needs in mind: profile of the Centre after a period of inactivity – such as PEN charge’ and ‘accessible’. Since this video is presenting Guadalajara, whose event was attended by at least 200

PEN’s Myanmar’s mission and our writers, journalists, academics and others interested in the Throughout its project activities Centre’s work, and PEN Haiti, whose 30-person audience successful work, it will also spread Gender PEN Zimbabwe will adopt a gender was made up of largely young people and representatives our message of how literature transformative approach whereby of non-traditional media – or to profile other issues central PEN’s civil society programme has a strong gender and advocacy can work together deliberate effort shall be taken in to their national context – such as access to information component. PEN Centres are required to carry out research to change society. It will help us in Puerto Rico or indigenous language in Chile. addressing discriminatory gender into the different needs of their beneficiaries to ensure that to increase our partnerships for they are ensuring participation of a diverse range of people. norms, stereotypes and unequal promoting and protecting Freedom PEN Haiti’s president commented that their event was PEN’s gender and diversity training has benefited 35 PEN relationships. Throughout the project particularly significant to announce the Centre’s resurgence of Expression. This video’s message members from 18 PEN Centres. Trainings are facilitated by we will ensure that women equally and reiterate its commitment to freedom of expression, and will also be used to raise awareness PEN members involved in the Civil Society Programme. contribute in all key decision making. build connections with its audience and the media. Our of our work with donors to expand A platform shall exist where issues Centres in Venezuela and Nicaragua used the opportunity PEN Centres are becoming more gender aware, with PEN Myanmar resources and to shine a spotlight on the deteriorating climate for freedom that affect female counterparts will projects ranging from gender neutral and gender sensitive, institutional capacity. of expression in their own countries and to show that they to some approaching gender transformative. PEN Guinea, be addressed to ensure that there are not alone in these experiences. PEN Nicaragua’s event Kurdish PEN and Wales PEN Cymru ran gender sensitive are equal power relationships. We PEN Myanmar’s Civil Society Project Report was covered in the independent media in the country, projects which looked at the specific needs of different will also organise an event to address Dec 2018 including on the radio. Both PEN Venezuela and PEN genders and tailored some of the project activities to those the causes of gender discrimination Nicaragua established close working relationships in different needs. and hierarchy. The event will be with other key civil society actors in the field of freedom incorporated in one of the main of expression to host their events – partnerships that will events where an open dialogue will be essential if they are to withstand the current political In a call to arms made during the Americas Network upheaval in their respective countries. PEN Honduras’ be organised to discuss about the Meeting in Buenos Aires, PEN International once again event counted on the attendance of over 40 journalists, women’s manifesto. appealed to its Centres in Latin America and the Caribbean human rights defenders and an EU representative. PEN Zimbabwe to participate in an action in solidarity with their fallen The Centre’s president remarked that while impunity colleagues – be they writers or journalists to commemorate is a critical issue for the country, it is little-discussed. the Day of the Dead. While PEN International supplied The event served to raise the profile of the issue in the branding and information materials pertaining to writers media and sparked debate.

29 30 Dangerous Dissent: Protecting Free Expression in an Age of Tyranny Learning

Uganda. Lebanon and Uganda are states with significant Civil Society Programme numbers of exiled and at risk writers. A fact finding mission to assess the feasibility of running the pilot in Lebanon Deemed a success so far by the external evaluation, PEN concluded that the PEN Centre did not currently have the continues to nurture diverse spaces in countries around capacity to pursue the project. PEN Uganda, which has the world, particularly in fragile states where civic space is already managed several successful projects, is receiving under threat, by supporting Centres through its civil society a range of support from PEN International to ensure the sub granting programme. Centres have been running success and sustainability of the project going forward. a diverse number of projects with schools, universities PEN Lebanon is due to hold its Centre’s elections in 2019 and communities using literature as an entry point to and the Secretariat will work with the team to determine the raise concerns around free speech and other rights. support necessary to run such a project in the near future. Centres have succeeded in diversifying the participants in their projects, however efforts need to be strengthened to further extend their reach to be more inclusive of Advocacy and Campaigning marginalised voices, particularly those of women. Our civil society training workshops have been well received by Much of PEN’s impact at regional and international members and now need to be expanded to reach more political institutions has been effective due to the platform members and ensure that learning is embedded and and support given to writers to advocate for freedom of applied. Informal exchanges at PEN meetings and Centre expression issues. Achieving legislative or policy change to Centre learning – such as the exchange visit to Sierra is slow, and has proved most effective when done in Leone – will be prioritised going forward. collaboration with sister free expression organisations. Some Centres such as Eritrea, Myanmar and Zambia have As recognised by the evaluation, the programme was built a reputation for expertise and are now sought out slower to get started than originally intended; largely by policy makers and other NGOs. As recognised by the due to the significant support required by Centres from Learning independent evaluation, work at the UN UPR for example, the Secretariat around project design and budgeting. is resource heavy, given PEN’s limited resources and the Reporting from Centres has improved, however significant need to stream line work, a process is underway to review PEN International’s learning framework aims to be a For this report, PEN International selected a number support from the Secretariat has also been needed the organisation’s advocacy priorities in order to increase participatory and adaptable process for understanding of case studies believed to be emblematic of both the around financial reporting, this has led to additional funds support to Centres for policy work at national level, whilst the impact of PEN’s work across the organisation by strengths of our work and the challenges faced by being allocated to Centres renewing projects for financial working more closely with partners, when appropriate at bringing the voices of writers and members working in merit of working in a complex environment for change. management. PEN is currently in the process of consulting the international level. a variety of contexts together, to build a comprehensive The impact articulated in this report is based on the Centres to determine whether it should place a ceiling on the number of Centres receiving grants and whether to picture of PEN’s work. Lessons learnt, including from analysis of 464 pieces of qualitative and quantitative In 2018 we evidenced an increased impact for individual provide larger grants to fewer Centres. achievements and challenges, are fed into strategic evidence drawn from 2018 data and includes findings writers at risk as a result of campaigning. Several writers planning and strengthen PEN’s work. Meaningful from PEN’s external evaluation carried out by Mary were released from prison and others had charges dropped. In some countries we have noted improved foundations feedback and honest analysis is at the core of our Myers and Nicola Harford. PEN also gained greater visibility attracting a number for sustainability going forward – Argentina, Myanmar, system, as is our means of capturing this data which of high profile and influential writers and supporters. Philippines and Sierra Leone are good examples where harnesses the strength of PEN as an organisation of We consider this positive change is largely due to focusing Centres have fostered partnerships with stakeholders and writers who can tell stories of change. Protection support on fewer, but more emblematic cases; an enhanced begun to diversify their funding, with a view to becoming website and greater use of social media; better planning Data for this report has been collected on a project, PEN’s protection work continues to be incredibly important less reliant on PEN International. The importance of and provision of diverse, accessible campaign materials programme and an organisational level. Stories of and impactful, improving the lives of persecuted writers ensuring the sustainability of PEN Centres and their to Centres resulting in greater participation in campaigns change from across the organisation have been gathered and of their families. However, the number of writers with projects was also a key recommendation from the by the membership. Campaign actions synchronised throughout the year and stored in an ‘Impact Log’ which long-term protection needs continues to grow. In 2018 evaluation. PEN recognises that it needs to redouble with advocacy opportunities have demonstrated stores stakeholder and participant feedback. In 2018, PEN received a 25% increase (from 2017) in the number of efforts to diversify and increase its own funding so that it the effectiveness of improved planning such as in the 78 change stories were recorded each categorised cases for assessment from ICORN. The increase in demand can ensure the prospect of increased sustainability of its case of Turkey. In order to increase the effectiveness according to our global outcomes. for PEN’s research expertise is putting a considerable Centres and their work. of PEN’s voice and further rally the membership, key strain on the organisation’s already stretched resources. campaigning dates will be reduced from over ten to four, PEN International is currently developing its strategic plan Individual stories of change are reviewed at quarterly Moreover, only about a quarter of applicants can be placed (roughly one per quarter) and will be linked to key cases, for 2020 – 2024. The findings and recommendations from intervals to build a more complex picture of change and through the ICORN network each year. Going forward, PEN thus avoiding the organisation spreading itself too thinly the evaluation along with the views of the membership will to ensure learning is fed into planning processes. PEN is working with ICORN to address resourcing issues, as and maximising resources. inform how PEN will strengthen its internal governance and holds participatory ‘sense-making-sessions’ which are well as supporting ICORN in extending its own networks of external programmes to realise its mandate. Literature is adapted programme-to-programme. The Civil Society City partnerships. Currently the overwhelming majority of at the heart of PEN’s identity and will remain the vehicle by Programme, for example, uses an impact grid to explore ICORN cities are in Europe and given the growing hostile which we defend and promote free expression around the how Centre projects fit into the wider aims of the environment towards refugees and migrants, PEN is keen globe at a time of unprecedented threats. programme. The impact grid is used at Secretariat level to develop its prevention-oriented protection measures in and with PEN Centres (in 2018 during the Philippines the regions where writers are based. workshop) to triangulate information provided through Centre reporting and to test our analysis. These sessions A pilot Make Space project, which aims to build safe also provide an opportunity for training PEN members in spaces and enabling environments for writers to work, participatory monitoring and evaluation tools. initially planned in Lebanon is currently getting underway in

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