Over the last 90 years, Scottish PEN has defended the rights of writers in Scotland and around the world to express themselves free from the threat of violence or censorship. We will be celebrating this anniversary and Human Rights Day with a unique event at the Scottish Poetry Library featuring a keynote address from David Pratt, the foreign correspondent of Herald Scotland, who will share his experiences around the world documenting conflict, social movements and the shifting narratives of the modern world. The event will also feature readings from leading writers based in Scotland.

With the rise of right-wing populism, the proliferation of propaganda and false information, the continued refugee crisis in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, the demonisation of immigration and the constant threats directed at writers and journalists, what does the right to free expression mean and what does that mean for our future?

Join us at the Scottish Poetry Library as we attempt to answer these questions.

Photo credit: Andres Musta