PEN Canada

PEN Canada

PEN Canada is one of the 144 centres of International PEN. Founded in 1926, it has a membership of over 1,000 writers and supporters who campaign on behalf of writers around the world who are persecuted, imprisoned and exiled for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Since its founding, PEN has campaigned on behalf of such acclaimed writers as Czech playwright Václav Havel, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, novelist Salman Rushdie and Turkey’s 2006 Nobel laureate in literature, Orhan Pamuk. PEN Canada is a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange network.

Over the years, PEN Canada membership has included many of the leading figures in the Canadian literary and cultural establishment, including Margaret Atwood, Adrienne Clarkson, John Ralston Saul, David Cronenberg and Yann Martel.

Contents

PEN Canada Programs

The Writers in Prison Committee advocates on behalf of 25-30 persecuted, imprisoned and murdered writers in countries such as Myanmar, China, Iran, Turkey, Mexico, Eritrea and Uzbekistan. Since January 2003, PEN Canada has seen the release from prison of 33 Honorary Members. International PEN's Day of the Imprisoned Writer is marked on November 15. The PEN Canada One Humanity Award honors a writer, journalist, academic or PEN Canada Honorary Member outside of Canada.

The Writers in Exile Network establishes partnerships with Canadian universities, colleges and other institutions to create placements for writers who have found asylum in Canada, so that they may re-professionalize their skills in their new country. The City of Toronto/PEN Canada Writer in Exile Fellowship allows a refugee writer to be a member of the Toronto Writers’ Centre for one year.

The TAXI Project and Readers & Writers “explore freedom of expression through the arts” with actors, writers in exile and established and community authors participating in schools and community readings and events.

The National Affairs program run by PEN Canada acts as a watchdog on legislation and actions in Canada that violate the right to freedom of expression guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

PEN Canada also participates in Freedom to Read Week by holding events to raise awareness about freedom of expression.

Awards and Fellowships

  • The PEN Canada/Paul Kidd Courage Prize is given to a Canadian journalist and recognizes exceptional courage in the quest for freedom of expression.
  • The PEN Canada/RBC Writer’s Fellowship for New Canadians enables a writer in exile to receive a stipend in a university residency.
  • The City of Toronto/PEN Canada Writer in Exile Fellowship allows a refugee writer to be a member of the Toronto Writers’ Centre for one year.

One Humanity Award

The One Humanity Award has been given since 2006 to an international writer, journalist, academic, or honorary PEN member who has endured repression or shown courage in exercising their freedom of expression. The honour has been awarded to:

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.pencanada.ca/media/Media-OneHumanity28Sep06.pdf
  2. ^ http://www.pencanada.ca/media/Zargana-news_release.pdf
  3. ^ http://www.pencanada.ca/media/cacho-one-humanity-news-rel.pdf

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEN_Canada"

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • PEN American Center — This is about the PEN center for the Eastern half of the USA. For the Western half see PEN Center USA Literature portal PEN American Center (PEN), founded in 1922 and based in New York City, works to advance literature, to defe …   Wikipedia

  • CANADA — CANADA, country in northern half of North America and a member of the British Commonwealth. At the beginning of the 21st century, its population of approximately 370,000 Jews made it the world s fourth largest Jewish community after the United… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Pen Hadow — Infobox Person name = Pen Hadow image size = 200px caption = occupation = explorer birth date = birth date|1962|2|26|df=yes birth place = United Kingdom education = Harrow School known for = First solo trek from Canada to the North Geographic… …   Wikipedia

  • International PEN — For the Postsecondary Education Network International , see PEN International. International PEN Motto Poets, Essayists and Novelists Formation 1921 Type …   Wikipedia

  • Kurdish PEN — or The Kurdish Centre of the International PEN ( Navenda PEN a Kurd in Kurdish) is a branch of International PEN. It was voted into existence during International PEN s conference in Cambridge in 1988. Its headquarters are located in Cologne,… …   Wikipedia

  • Censorship in Canada — In Canada the principles of community standards and public interests are the primary adjudicants of what may be published or broadcast by the media. In most respects, Canadian law takes a relatively liberal interpretation of community standards,… …   Wikipedia

  • Marine Le Pen — Marine Le Pen, president of the Front National pictured in January 2011 2nd President of the National Front Incumbent …   Wikipedia

  • Marker pen — Felt tip redirects here. For the EP by Love Is All, see Felt Tip (EP). A selection of Crayola markers …   Wikipedia

  • The Pen Centre — Location St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada Opening date 1958 Management 20 VIC Owner 20 VIC No. of stores and services 180 No. of …   Wikipedia

  • National Pen Corporation — Infobox Company company name = National Pen Corporation company company type = Subsidiary of Berwind genre = Pens foundation = founder = Al Liguori location city = San Diego, California location country = USA location = origins = key people =… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”