PEN International

PEN International

Formation	1921; 103 years ago (1921)
Type	NGO
Purpose	Promote literature and defend freedom of expression worldwide.
Headquarters	London
Region served	International
President	Burhan Sönmez
Website	www.pen-international.org

PEN International (known as International PEN until 2010)^[1] is a worldwide association of writers, founded in London in 1921^[2] 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.