PIWWC Annual Meeting 2026 – Final Report

Dear PEN Centres Members,

We are pleased to share with you the final report of the PEN International Women Writers Committee Annual Meeting, Women Writers on the Frontlines of Freedom, which took place on 20 March 2026.

The meeting brought together writers, publishers, journalists, translators, and advocates from across PEN’s global network to reflect on censorship, conflict, democracy, freedom of expression, and the experiences of women writers working on the frontlines of political and social repression. Through panel discussions, literary readings, artistic interventions, and collective reflections, participants explored both the challenges faced by women writers worldwide and the importance of solidarity, resistance, and cultural memory.

The report follows the structure of the meeting agenda and includes summaries of the key discussions, themes, speakers’ contributions, and action points that emerged throughout the event.

We would like to warmly thank all speakers, moderators, participants, and PEN Centres who contributed to making the meeting such a meaningful and powerful gathering.

Please find the report attached.

With warm regards,

Judyth HillChair, PEN International Women Writers Committee