Arne Svingen Elected to Top Position in PEN International
At the PEN Congress in Oxford last week, Norwegian writer and PEN Norway’s member Arne Svingen was elected International Secretary. “This position comes with great responsibility and is very exciting,” said Svingen.
PEN International’s 90th Congress, themed “Writers in a World at War,” took place in Oxford, UK, from September 24 to 27, bringing together PEN delegates from over 90 countries.
At the congress, Svingen, a member and former board member of PEN Norway, was elected PEN’s International Secretary. This role is one of the highest in PEN International, with only the President, Chairman, and Deputy Chairman ranking above it. The International Secretary serves as the crucial link between the leadership and all of PEN’s centers worldwide.
“I’m looking forward to helping develop and promote the important freedom of expression work that PEN does internationally. This position comes with significant responsibility, especially at a time when authors, writers, and journalists are facing unique challenges across the globe,” said Svingen following the election.
Svingen is committed to supporting PEN’s mission to protect freedom of expression and ensuring the organization’s continued growth and impact. “In a world marked by conflict, war, authoritarian regimes, and undemocratic forces, it is more important than ever to protect freedom of expression. The world needs more committed writers for this vital work,” he added.
During the PEN Congress, Burhan Sönmez was re-elected as President of PEN International, and Carlos Torner was elected Vice Chair.
PEN International also launched its report, The Challenges in Ensuring the Safety of Writers in Times of Crisis, which highlighted the difficulties in protecting writers during crises, focusing on Afghanistan, Belarus, Eritrea, Nicaragua, and other affected countries.
Norwegian PEN is part of PEN International, the world’s leading freedom of expression and writers’ organization. Since 1921, the organization has defended free speech and promoted literature worldwide, with over 135 centers in more than 100 countries.
Press contact:
Siri Berge Engerud
siri@norskpen.no
+47 954 14 103
