United Kingdom – Free Word Center
Free Word Center is an international center for literature, literacy and free expression. It works to promote, protect and democratise the power of the written and spoken word, nationally and internationally. Founder organisations: Apples and Snakes, Article 19, Booktrust, English PEN, Index on Censorship, The Arvon Foundation, The Literary Consultancy, The Reading Agency.
Human rights trends
Council of Europe concerned over Belarus political prisoner‘s life
Council of Europe member states urge to heighten sanctions against Europe’s last dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka as opposition leader Andrei Sannikov tells of fears. 29 Jan 2012 »
Protection of creator’s rights should not come at the expense of free speech
Article 19 and Index on Censorship stand up against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA), that are currently being debated by US Congress. Protecting the rights of creators is an important goal; however, enforcement should not come at the expense of free speech or due process, say the organisations. 22 Jan 2012 »
Somaliland: private TV channel closed, many independent journalists arrested
Last week 7 journalists were detained in the semi-autonomous republic of Somaliland. On 14 January the police stormed the headquarters of a private TV network and sealed the offices. As a result, on 15 January Somaliland journalists gathered peacefully in front of the Presidential Palace to demonstrate against the media crackdown. The police disrupted the demonstration, 22 journalists were taken into custody. 15 Jan 2012 »
Chinese writers sentenced to lengthy prison terms
Two Chinese dissident writers Chen Xi and Chen Wei were sentenced to ten and nine years in prison for «inciting subversion of state power» in essays published on Chinese websites overseas. 08 Jan 2012 »
Belarus: Havel vs Lukashenko
One of the last acts of Vaclav Havel was signature of the statement calling for free speech in Belarus. He signed the document along with Ai Weiwei. “Prison taught them both of the evils of totalitarianism”, said Irina Bogdanova, sister of political prisoner Andrei Sannikov, sentenced to five years hard labour for “organizing a mass disturbance” after last year’s Presidential elections. “Confronting evil means taking action”, she says. 31 Dec 2011 »
Calendar
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28 Feb
London
Free Speech and Literature
This six-part course, led by Dr Sophie Mayer, will consider some …
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1 Mar
London
Free Speech Cafe
The latest in a series of regular events, giving members the oppo…
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14 Mar
London
Nadine Gordimer at the Southba…
In the first of a series of events between Index on Censorship an…
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28 Mar
Index Freedom of Expression Aw…
The 12th annual Index Freedom of Expression Awards will be held o…
United Kingdom - London
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