PEN Perth

Friends in Perth, when I posted this event on my personal page, I got a lovely response from a Curtin University alumna expressing her joy at the prospect of seeing her favourite teacher and poet Yirga and her favourite poet Srijato on the same panel.

Don’t miss this important conversation about the risky business of writing poetry, anchored by Robert Wood.

The Costs of Bearing Witness Organisations like PEN International argue that around the world legal and illegal attacks on writers are on the increase. But is poetry inherently risky business? Do poets have to take...

PEN Perth invites you to an evening of poetry exploring war, peace, exile, identity and hope.

Poems of War and Peace brings together four poets:
Afeif Ismail
Vivienne Glance
Lakshmi Kanchi
Dr Ishraga Mustafa Hamid

Hosted by Vivienne Glance, this special event will feature readings and conversation reflecting on war, peace and survival through the unique perspective of poetry.

Thursday 20 August
6.00–7.15 pm (following the PEN Perth AGM)
Centre for Stories, Northbridge
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/poems-of-war-and-peace

We'd love to see you there, and please feel free to share this invitation with friends, colleagues and anyone who may be interested.

Thank you for your support.

Poems of War and Peace After the PEN Perth AGM, poets will share their experiences of war and responses to peace in its many forms and meanings.

Say happy birthday to Galal and let him know you are thinking of him on his birthday.

Today, Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy turns 36, marking another birthday in prison. Arrested in March 2018 for his poetry, he was sentenced by a military court on charges of "spreading fake news" and… | PEN International Today, Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy turns 36, marking another birthday in prison. Arrested in March 2018 for his poetry, he was sentenced by a military court on charges of "spreading fake news" and "insulting the army." In prison, he's endured torture, hunger strikes, and systematic denial of basi...

On World Refugee Day, 20 June, we recognise the courage, resilience and contributions of millions of people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, persecution, violence or human rights abuses.

At PEN Perth, we stand in solidarity with refugees, asylum seekers and displaced writers whose voices are too often silenced. We affirm the importance of freedom of expression, the right to tell one’s story, and the dignity of every person seeking safety and a place to belong.

Today is an opportunity to listen, learn and act with compassion. Behind every refugee statistic is a human story of loss, hope, strength and survival.

Pham Doan Trang is a Vietnamese author, journalist and pro-democracy activist who remains imprisoned for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression. In December 2021, she was sentenced to nine years in prison on charges related to “anti-state propaganda”, and her appeal was later rejected.

A respected writer and advocate for human rights, Pham Doan Trang has authored books on democracy, civil society and non-violent activism. For years she faced harassment, surveillance and detention because of her work promoting freedom of information and civic participation in Vietnam.

PEN International considers her imprisonment a violation of her right to free expression and continues to call for her immediate and unconditional release. The organisation has also raised concerns about her health and access to legal representation and medical care while in detention.

PEN Perth stands in solidarity with Pham Doan Trang and with writers everywhere who are persecuted, imprisoned or silenced for their words. We call for her immediate release.

Freedom to write is a fundamental human right.

FreedomOfExpression HumanRights Vietnam