PEN International

The latest revelations that a GCHQ programme “harvested” correspondence at news organisations around the world have exposed another threat to the protection of sources and journalism in the public interest.

The international community’s response to the current charges leveled against prominent activist Nabeel Rajab has been monumental in denouncing the Criminal Investigations Department and the Bahraini government for their actions.

The conviction and sentencing of Dhaka-based journalist David Bergman is a serious set-back to Bangladesh’s commitment to free speech and independent scholarship.

8 December 2014 marks the sixth anniversary of the arrest of poet and human rights defender Liu Xiaobo. His wife, poet and artist Liu Xia, was placed under house arrest following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Xiaobo in October 2010.

On Human Rights Day, PEN International calls for greater protection of linguistic rights, cultural diversity and minority languages. PEN International has long recognised the vital role that language plays in identity, communications, social integration, education and development and has continued to defend linguistic rights of writers, journalist and others across the globe.

There is alarm over a new wave of arrests of writers, journalists, publishers and civil society activists in China in recent weeks, apparently for their public support of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

On 5 November 2014, the IACHR ordered the Honduran government to suspend a 16-month ban on practising journalism and other penalties imposed on Julio Alvarado. One month after the ruling, the Honduran state has failed to suspend the work ban.

PEN Honduras welcomes the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to Honduras, at a crucial juncture for human rights, of which the right to freedom of expression is particularly vulnerable.