Iranian poet arrested

“Writers and artists have become collateral damage during the ongoing protests, with reported casualties in the thousands..”

Three Iranian Writers face imprisonment

“If the authorities were tipped off that a gathering was organised for me to read my poems or to screen my films, they would shoot the place down and, they do not allow the program to go ahead.”

hate speech laws will do real harm

“Freedom of expression, including the right to challenge, critique and debate ideas, especially difficult or contested ones, is a cornerstone of democracy and a fundamental human right. PEN organisations have long opposed censorship and legal frameworks that suppress dissenting or uncomfortable voices under the guise of protection..”

Freedom to write
freedom to read

PEN Sydney has been protecting freedom of expression for more than 90 years. We also defend writers here and around the globe who are at risk of being silenced.

With the support of our members – a community of writers, readers, translators and activists – we celebrate writing in all its forms through our public conversations, publications and activism.

We are an affiliate of PEN International and are inspired by their charter, which states Literature knows no frontiers.

News & Media

amanda echanis freed

amanda echanis freed

On 14 January, Filipino poet, writer, and activist Amanda Echanis was acquitted of weapons and explosives charges after spending more than five...

adelaide writers’ week cancelled

adelaide writers’ week cancelled

The cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week after the removal of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah and the withdrawal of the majority of writers calls for a...

adelaide writers’ week cancelled

adelaide writers week

77 writers have withdrawn from the Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW) after the Adelaide Festival Board decided to drop Australian-Palestinian author...

The PEN Sydney magazine has compelling articles about freedom of expression, the imprisonment of writers and journalists, the literary world and original fiction and poetry.

It’s published twice a year in print and online and distributed for free to PEN Sydney members and at writers’ festivals and bookshops.

FROM OUR WRITERS

PEN Sydney works to free writers who are at risk of being silenced. Their words and courage give us the motivation to continue.

“The role that writers can play in times of uncertainty, diligently curating narratives to nourish empathy, encompassing glimpses of joy and ultimately offering the gift of hope, lacks formal recognition, and this lack of acknowledgement or coherent protections can ultimately decimate expression and propel rampant self-censorship.”

Ma Thida

A Burmese human rights activist, surgeon and writer. She spent six years in Burma’s Insein prison for her pro-democracy activism. She has published 26 books, including her prison memoir Prisoner of Conscience; My Steps through Insein and A-maze both available in English. She is the Chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison committee

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Join our community of writers, readers, translators and activists and help us protect the basic human right to freedom of expression. 

You’ll receive; the PEN Sydney magazine and newsletter, early tickets to our events and the opportunity to participate in our activities, such as letter writing campaigns. 

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help us make a difference

Why support PEN Sydney?

We’ve been celebrating the written word and defending freedom of expression for 90 years, and we want to continue to do that for many more to come. But our work can only continue thanks to the generosity of our donors, whose support allows us to keep going.

Every day writers are detained, harassed or even killed for their work.  With your help, we’ll continue to stand up for writers facing persecution around the world, work to ensure that everyone has the right to share their ideas and views and champion Australian and international writing.

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