14 April 2004
PEN TO HIGHLIGHT WRITERS AND FREE EXPRESSION AT BARCELONA FORUM
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC) will spotlight the struggles of writers worldwide against censorship next month at a major international event in Barcelona, touted as a "new and creative space for reflection" on cross cultural understanding, peace and sustainable development.
WiPC is hosting a five-day conference called "The Value of the Word," one of 47 different "dialogues" being held at Barcelona Forum 2004.
The forum, sponsored in part by UNESCO, will be organised around the themes of cultural diversity, sustainable development and the promotion of peace. Organisers say the aim is to promote dialogue between people from around the world and focus attention on the main cultural and social challenges facing the 21 century. Internationally acclaimed figures, including Noam Chomsky, Bono, former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, are expected to attend the event, which runs from May to September.
WiPC's conference, "The Value of the Word," will take place from 17 to 21 May 2004 and be a meeting point for writers from various countries and cultures, who will share experiences about their struggles against censorship. They will include writers freed from prison, exiled writers and those facing persecution.
Delegates from PEN's 130 centres will also evaluate past campaigns in support of imprisoned writers and discuss new initiatives.
In addition, PEN's conference will feature three roundtables where writers and the general public can share views on the role of writers in society. One of the roundtables, entitled "Writers' Responsibilities in the Face of War," will deal with writers in conflict situations.
For more information on the conference, visit:
www.barcelona2004.org
For more information about PEN's work, visit: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/
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