Freedom to write in the Americas 2009
Throughout 2009, the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC) will be running a campaign to promote freedom of expression and freedom to write in the Americas.
Freedom to Write in the AmericasFreedom to write in the Americas aims to highlight the persecution of writers and journalists and the issue of impunity in the region, provide direct support to colleagues in trouble and raise awareness of trends of repression and censorship threatening writers’ rights. Click here for an overview of concerns in the region. For the full aims and objectives, click here.
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Freedom to write in the Americas map
Tool Box Cuba postcard thumbnail (Spanish)
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For details of organizations providing assistance to journalists and writers click here
The primary focus countries will be Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela, while developments in Peru, Colombia, and Nicaragua will also be closely monitored. These countries were selected on the basis of the volume of attacks and severity of persecution against writers in recent years, and the interests of PEN Centres in the Americas and worldwide identified during a consultation process carried out in 2008.
29 PEN Centres worldwide have already signed up to the campaign and all others are encouraged to join in, whether or not they have a WiPC. We also hope to welcome other organisations and individuals worldwide as part of the campaign.
For more information, contact Tamsin Mitchell, WiPC researcher for the Americas at tamsin.mitchell@internationalpen.org.uk
