PEN International
| Formation | 1921 |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Purpose | Promote literature and defend freedom of expression worldwide. |
| Headquarters | London |
Region served | International |
President | Burhan Sönmez |
| Website | www |
PEN International (known as International PEN until 2010) is a worldwide association of writers, founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere. The association has autonomous International PEN centres in more than 100 countries.
Other goals included: to emphasise the role of literature in the development of mutual understanding and world culture; to fight for freedom of expression; and to act as a powerful voice on behalf of writers harassed, imprisoned and sometimes killed for their views.