About the Independent Chinese PEN Center
The Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) is a non-political, non-profit organization of writers that fights for the protection of freedom of expression and publication, and works toward ensuring the free flow of information, a prerequisite for a truly open society.
Founded in 2001 by a group of Chinese writers in exile and in China, ICPC is primarily concerned with the rights of Chinese language writers throughout the world. ICPC is an official affiliate of International PEN, the global association of writers dedicated to freedom of expression and the defense of writers suffering governmental repression. Through the world-wide PEN network and its own membership base in China and abroad, ICPC is able to mobilize international attention to the plight of writers and editors within China attempting to write and publish with a spirit of independence and integrity, regardless of their political views, ideological standpoint or religious beliefs.
In April 2002, ICPC established a website www.penchinese.net to communicate with its members. Since August 2002, ICPC has posted the works of more than 60 members to its website that otherwise have not been published due to political suppression.
To fulfill its mission in defending freedom of writing and expression, and to help imprisoned Chinese writers, ICPC documents the cases of imprisoned Chinese writers, reports their cases to International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, writes petition letters to the relevant authorities, provides information about these imprisoned writers to other international organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders and others, and solicits donations for imprisoned writers. ICPC recently has advocated for the cyberdissident Du Daobin and raised funds for his family. ICPC will continue to monitor the condition of Chinese writers and apply for financial assistance for the imprisoned writer’s family.
With the guidance and help of International PEN’s Writers-in-Exile Committee, ICPC will assist Chinese writers-in-exile to find safe haven in a new country and thus resume their careers. Specifically, ICPC will help them apply for financial assistance, such as Human Rights Watch’s Hellman Hammett Prize and have their works translated into local languages in order to allow them to enter local literary circles.
Literary activities are ICPC’s primary focus. ICPC will organize literary seminars, poetry readings, and conferences on Chinese literature. The publication of a literary journal is also under planning with the hope of soliciting manuscripts and distributing it in China, in order to break the barriers for freedom of expression.
ICPC established a Freedom to Write Priz in 2002 to honor writers who have made important contributions to freedom of expression and literary writing in the Chinese language. The purpose of the award is to promote the spirit of freedom among Chinese writers. The first award was given in June 2002 in Boston and and the second award was given in October 2004 in Beijing. It will be given every year.