Finnish PEN is an international association of writers promoting freedom of expression founded in 1928. It is part of PEN International, which operates in over 100 countries, and according to its charter aims to defend and promote literature, freedom of expression and understanding between nations around the globe. PEN strives to have an effect on governments, other officials and public opinion everywhere in the world to fulfil the organization’s ideals.
Finnish PEN follows the state of freedom of expression, organizes discussions and literary events around the country, publishes statements and other writings and campaigns for its Honorary Members and other writers at risk. Finnish PEN participates in the annual PEN International congress and other international meetings by the organization. Finnish PEN co-works with different PEN centres, most closely with PEN centres in Nordic countries and Estonian PEN. Finnish PEN’s Freedom of Expression Award has been given out since 2012 to an individual or organization for distinguished work in promoting freedom of expression.
Finnish PEN has four committees dealing with different kind of freedom of expression issues: Writers at Risk Committee, Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee, Womens’ Committee and Peace Committee. All these have their roots in the work of PEN International. In the Spring 2017 Finnish PEN founded a brand new Committee for Non-fiction Writers and Reseachers to support their freedom of expression and unhampered transmission of thought.
Priorities 2025-26
Defending freedom of expression and promoting literature
The right to freedom of expression must be defended continuously. All over the world books and media are censored and people are imprisoned or killed because they have expressed an opinion that someone does not accept. Also in Finland freedom of expression is under pressure, while the situation in the literary and cultural field is becoming increasingly difficult.
Supporting threatened and imprisoned writers
Literature knows no frontiers and solidarity among those who work with the written word is a central principle in the international PEN network. We work with PEN International and directly with PEN centres in other countries, for example Belarus and Ukraine, to help threatened and imprisoned writers and others who work with the written word.
Supporting multilingualism
Linguistic rights and translation, which are closely connected to freedom of expression, are an important priority in the international PEN network. By increasing awareness of the diversity of languages we promote opportunities for expression in different languages, which enriches Finnish culture and literature. By increasing appreciation of translation we promote literature and free exchange of thoughts and opinions between cultures.
In the article picture above Sirpa Kähkönen, the president of Finnish PEN, helds the opening speech of the protest for Boris Nemtsov in February 2015. On the right, the former president of Finnish PEN & PEN International Treasurer Jarkko Tontti. Photo by J.P. Pulkkinen.