Latest News from PEN Melbourne
The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International was set up in 1960 as a result of mounting concern about attempts to silence critical voices around the world. An office was set up at the PEN head office in London to gather information and to alert the PEN membership to take action. The WiPC is now staffed by a team of experts who monitor around 1,000 attacks on writers, journalists, editors, poets, publishers and others in any given year. These include long prison terms, harassment, threats, and murder.
PEN International is deeply concerned over reports regarding last week’s arrest of educator and prominent advocate for girls’ education, Matiullah Wesa, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Matiullah’s detention is just the latest example of the Taliban’s intolerance towards anyone who challenges its efforts to deny women and girls their right to education. On 27 March 2023, Matiullah Wesa was arrested by the Taliban after attending prayers at a mosque in Kabul, according to media reports. Videos circulated …
IMPUNITY REIGNS – WRITERS RESIST: PEN INTERNATIONAL CASE LIST 2022, documents 115 cases of writers facing harassment, arrest, violence and even death, worldwide. Consent for action was secured on their behalf. To mark the launch, we are organising a virtual event on Tuesday 21 March at 1pm GMT, featuring Ma Thida, Chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee, Ahdaf Soueif, writer, activist, and aunt of imprisoned writer Alaa Abd El-Fattah, Volodymyr Yermolenko, President of PEN Ukraine, and author and …
67th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, March 2023 a report by Lucina Kathmann This year the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women has as its special focus the digital world and how it is affecting women. We all are aware that the internet has had a tremendous impact, both positively and negatively. In PEN the internet permits us to reach new people and to work much closer with some others …
Screening: 22 March 6.30 Nova, Carlton Bookings and trailer: https://www.cinemanova.com.au/films/road-to-war-the As international tensions rise to a new level, with the Ukraine war passing its first anniversary and the Albanese Government set to announce its commitment of hundreds of billions of dollars to new weaponry, nuclear propelled subs, Stealth bombers etc, The Road to War brings into sharp focus why it is not in Australia’s best interests to be dragged into an American-led war with China. The Road to War is directed by …
Below are photos from the Anything To Say? sculpture installation at Queensbridge Square, Southbank. It was launched on Tuesday 7th March with an evening event hosted by PEN’s Writers In Prison co-coordinator Dr Josephine Scicluna and an impressive set of speakers including PEN Melbourne President Christine McKenzie who explained the PEN Empty Chair concept that is similar to that of ATS. The other speakers at the launch were: Julian Assange’s father John Shipton Dean Yates, the Reuters bureau …
As a member of PEN Melbourne, you will receive a monthly Update with news about our activities and campaigns, and invitations to a program of events with renowned Australian and international writers and activists. The PEN Melbourne Journal is also produced twice a year and distributed free to members.
