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English PEN condemns the arrests of prominent Iranian and Belarusian writers Nasrin Sotoudeh and Vladimir Neklyaev, detention of many Tunisian bloggers, imprisonment of Yemeni journalist and mourns the death of Chinese writer, poet and playwright Zhang Jianhong (aka Li Hong), who had died shortly after his release from the prison. Turkish writer and sociologist, Pinar Selek, if found guilty, faces up to 36 years in prison.

The Ukrainian parliament has adopted an Access to Information Law following a campaign by Article 19 and other organisations over the past two years. The new law contains several progressive provisions like requirement to publish certain types of information without any individual request. The law will take effect only after being signed by President Viktor Yanukovych.

The President of PEN International, John Ralston Saul, PEN’s International Secretary, Hori Takeaki, and the Chair of the Writers in Prison Committee, Marian Botsford Fraser, have addressed a letter to President Lukashenko of Republic of Belarus today protesting recent events following the flawed presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus. They urge in the letter immediately to order the release of all arrested writers and journalists.

English PEN calls for the immediate release of all journalists and activists who have been detained in the Republic of Belarus for practising their right to free expression, for the dismissal of all politically-motivated criminal cases, and for a full and proper investigation into the troubling reports of ill-treatment. English PEN calls to take urgent action by writing and sending letters of appeals to Belarusian authorities.

2nd Biennial War Crimes Conference: Justice? Whose Justice? Punishment, Mediation or Reconciliation aims to explore themes surrounding judicial roles and responses to war crimes – past, present and future – and also responses to such initiatives, from victims/victors, interested agencies and commentators, including the UN, NATO and various local, regional and international NGOs.

2010 was an intensive time for freedom of expression campaigners – Article 19, English PEN and Index on Censorship activists. The three London NGOs did their best to help, release or prevent imprisonment of writers, journalists, and bloggers all over the world. They also awarded the best fighters for freedom of expression. Most of the attention has been paid to the situation in Islamic Republic of Iran and Republic of Azerbaijan. Here is a summary of the NGOs’ activities in 2010.

Article 19 welcomes the request for summonses made by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a significant step towards justice for victims of the 2007-2008 post-election violence in the Republic of Kenya. Public opinion’s surveys indicate that the ICC process enjoys overwhelming public support locally.

Numerous human rights organizations, including the Human Rights House Foundation, addressed Belarusian President Lukashenka with a letter, condemning the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, detentions and battery of journalists, human rights defenders and opposition candidates during the 19 December post-election rally in Minsk.

Iranian film director Jafar Panahi was sentenced this week to six years in prison and 20 years’ ban from making films, writing any type of screen play, and traveling abroad. Index on Censorship calls on Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, head of the judiciary in Islamic Republic of Iran, to overturn the sentences handed down to the film directors Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof.