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.
Agenda PEN Melbourne Annual General MeetingWednesday, November 26, 6.30pmThe Orange RoomNorth Fitzroy Star HotelMINUTESWelcome to members and statement of acknowledgement and respect to Aboriginal owners and elders: Jackie Mansourian, SecretaryMinutes of 2013 AGM and Financial report presented: Jackie Mansourian Acceptance of minutes by Rosemary Mangiamele, seconded by Carole Browne.Statement from Christine McKenzie, President of PEN Melbourne:PEN Annual report to be sent to members, rather than read out at AGM.Chris expresses the importance of card writing to our writers in prison and that …
PEN International welcomes the release of Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakshan.
PEN Melbourne, the Wheeler Centre and the nonfictionLab at RMIT University host a panel of journalists, advocates and academics to discuss the implications of the Peter Greste and Alan Morison cases – and what we should do about them.
“Over 700 children are currently detained indefinitely by the Australian government. Indefinitely. Inhumanely. And in defiance of international human rights conventions.”PEN Melbourne stands in support of the We’re Better Than This campaign which is advocating for an end to the detention of children in Australia’s immigration detention centres.For more on the campaign, please follow the campaign on Twitter and Facebook.To read PEN Melbourne’s most recent statement regarding asylum seekers, click here.
PEN Melbourne Joint Submission in Response to Attorney-General’s Proposed Amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act 2013The following submission has been signed by 176 authors, writers, journalists, editors, publishers, directors, artists, filmmakers, academics and supporters including PEN Melbourne members and makes a clear and forceful argument as to why the legislation should remain unchanged. Click here to read the submission in full.
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.
