Scottish PEN is a centre of PEN International and not-for-profit organisation that champions freedom of expression and literature across borders.

We are a membership organisation and work with a range of writers, campaigners, activists and communities across Scotland and around the world.

Find out more about us.

All members of Scottish PEN subscribe to the PEN Charter.

Survey: Assessing the impact of Scottish defamation law on writers and publishers

In partnership with the University of Strathclyde, this survey from Scottish PEN hopes to assess the impact current defamation law in Scotland has on writers, journalists, editors, publishers, campaigners, and social media users.

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Event: The right to write? A conversation on writing and rights in Scotland today

On Thursday 10th December, Just Festival and Scottish PEN will host a conversation with writers Leela Soma and David Manderson to mark Human Rights Day 2020.

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Scottish Black Writers Group with Delia Jarrett-Macauley

During Black History Month, we partnered with Scottish BAME Writers Network to launch the Scottish Black Writers Group. The next meeting of the group is set for Thursday 17th December and features writer Delia Jarrett-Macauley.

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Book shop: Purchase Declarations now

Featuring short fiction and poetry from over fifty writers in Scotland and across the globe, the anthology celebrates the power of the written and spoken word and the radical potential of reading.

Buy now
Take action: Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2020

Take action to support the cases of writers imprisoned in Turkey, including Ahmet Altan, Ilhan Sami Çomak, Osman Kavala and Nedim Türfent.

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Defamation Reform: Update

The Justice Committee has today published the Stage 1 report on the Defamation and Malicious Publications (Scotland) Bill. Scottish PEN welcomes the report but highlights the need to progress a one-year limit on bringing defamation action.

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Latest from our blog

Scottish Black Writers Group

Scottish Black Writers Group with Delia Jarrett-Macauley

During Black History Month, we partnered with Scottish BAME Writers Network to launch the Scottish Black Writers Group. The next meeting of the group is set for Thursday 17th December and features writer Delia Jarrett-Macauley.

December 1, 2020

Survey: Assessing the impact of Scottish defamation law on writers and publishers

In partnership with the University of Strathclyde, this survey from Scottish PEN hopes to assess the impact current defamation law in Scotland has on writers, journalists, editors, publishers, campaigners, and social media users.

December 1, 2020
books and notepad

Event: The right to write? A conversation on writing and rights in Scotland today

On Thursday 10th December, Just Festival and Scottish PEN will host a conversation with writers Leela Soma and David Manderson to mark Human Rights Day 2020.

November 30, 2020
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Section 4 to be removed from Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill

Scottish PEN welcomes today’s announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice that Section 4 of the Bill, which related to theatrical and public performances, will be removed.

November 24, 2020


Latest writing

Featured Member's Writing

Iain Maloney

Silma Hill

From the author of the Not the Booker short-listed debut novel First Time Solo, comes a fast paced historical thriller. Accusations of witchcraft are sparked by the unearthing of a pagan idol in a remote Scottish village and exacerbated by generations-old social divisions.

PENning Magazine

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PROJECTS

Day of the Imprisoned Writer

Scottish Chilling

Declarations: On Freedom for Writers and Readers

defamation scot campaign - reform defamation, protect free speech

Defamation Reform