PEN International is the world’s leading organization defending freedom of expression and promoting literature. It was founded in 1921 and has since grown to include more than 140 centres around the world. PEN International works to protect writers who are persecuted for their work, campaigns against censorship, and promotes literature and freedom of expression through its various programmes. It also works to promote understanding between writers of different cultures and backgrounds, as well as to foster an appreciation of literature in all its forms.