Support persecuted and harassed writers: support the PEN Emergency Fund

Pen

Aims

PEN (an abbreviation of Poets, Essayists, Novelists/Playwrights, Editors and Non- Fiction Writers) is a worldwide organization of and for writers, who feel strongly about freedom of expression and the free exchange of literature

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Pen

History

The international writers’ association PEN was founded by the English writer Catherine Dawson Scott in 1921. The Dutch chapter, PEN Nederland, followed two years later and now includes more than 400 members. Its founder was the poet P.C. Boutens. Today there are roughly 145 centers in 104 countries throughout the world. The abbreviation PEN stands for: Poets – Essayists – Novelists.

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Pen

Who are we

The day by day board is runned by Job Degenaar (president) and Wim Jurg (treasurer). Third and fourth office member are dr. René Appel, a writer, professor emeritus and former chair of PEN Netherlands (2010-2014) and Paulien Loerts, general director of Singel Publishers.

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(written by a friend) ‘He’s undergoing the operation with the help of that money. Thank you ever so much for your help. I’ve spoken to him and he is enormously grateful to Pen International and for your kind assistance. Thank you again.
(Central Asia)

‘When the man finds himself alone in his homeland and feels fear for his life and freedom, he certainly will remain grateful for any voice resigning order to give him a little support and encouragement, even if it’s just the only sound, at least he feels that he is not alone in his ordeal, and you are this sound that kept me hanging by a thread of hope. Thank you, thank you. (Middle East)

‘Thank you so much for supporting me in the harsh situation of my life. I and my family experience a real hard life with bad security and poor economic situation. Worsening security, assassinations, and murders threats us every day. We have a very stressful life. We hope that we no longer have this type of life and relocated to a safer place through your supports and cooperation in the future. Best regards’ (Middle East)

N.B. Because of protection reasons names and location of the auteurs are not mentioned.

PEN Emergency Fund is supported by: