“The written word explains us to ourselves and others. Every nation, large or small, needs free speech – and to support PEN.”

– Ian Rankin, Scottish PEN Member

We are the Scottish centre of PEN International, a not-for-profit organisation that champions freedom of expression and literature across borders. Find out who our Trustees and staff members are here. 

PEN’s work is more important than ever. We live in a climate of self-censorship, fear, and uncertainty that restricts how we share ideas. Communications across borders are spied on and impeded. Writers around the world are censored, imprisoned, even sentenced to death. Those who escape into exile live in perpetual displacement and struggle to find a voice.

Scottish PEN defends these writers and their freedom of expression, press freedom and freedom to critique.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

• Challenge all efforts to silence writers through campaigns and legal means
• Create an open forum where writers and readers can discuss issues affecting freedom of expression, from censorship to digital surveillance
• Champion translation and minority languages, in particular Gaelic writing
• Support writers who are more likely to be marginalised and attacked for their writing
• Support writers in exile who are resident in Scotland

HOW DO WE DO THIS?

• Run campaigns on behalf of oppressed and imprisoned writers
• Work with other human rights and literature organisations to campaign about legislation
• Organise public events championing free expression, international writers, and marginalised voices
• Run education programmes and workshops in schools, colleges and libraries
• Publish exiled writers living in Scotland in our online magazine

Scottish PEN works with a range of writers, campaigners, activists and communities across both Scotland and around the world as part of the PEN International network. We also work with a range of marginalised communities to ensure they are able to access the right to free expression free from threats. We work to support people with protected characteristics as outlined in the Equality Act 2010 to be able to express themselves, as well as other groups marginalised through dominant political and social forces.