World Day of the writer (International Day of the writer) is celebrated in almost all countries every year on March 3. The full name of this holiday is World Day of Peace for the writer, it was established by the decision of the 48th Congress of the International PEN Club, which was held from 12 to 18 January 1986.
The PEN Club was founded in London in 1921. The name of the organization is an abbreviation formed by the first letters of the English words Poets – poets, Essayists – essays, Novelists – novelists. Interestingly, the abbreviation in this case coincides with the word pen – translated from English – pen.
The idea of creating the organization belongs to the English writer Catherine Amy Dawson-Scott (Mrs. C.A. Dawson Scott). The first president of the PEN was John Galsworthy. In 1923, the first international congress of the PEN Club was held in London, while Pen Centers were established in 11 countries around the world. Today such centers operate in 130 countries.
It is an international association of writers, which, as stated in the PEN-Club Charter, “advocates the principles of freedom of information within each country and between all countries. Its members pledge to oppose the suppression of free speech in any form in the countries and societies to which they belong, and throughout the world, whenever possible.
The PEN Club advocates for freedom of the press and against the arbitrary use of censorship in peacetime. The PEN Club believes that the necessary advancement of humanity towards higher forms of political and economic organization requires free criticism of the government, government and political institutions.
Since freedom implies voluntary restraint, PEN members are committed to opposing negative aspects of the free press, such as false publications, deliberate falsification, distortion of facts or their tendentious dishonest interpretation for political, group and personal goals. ”
The very same holiday – World Writer’s Day – is celebrated today in many countries of the world, and not only by writers, but also considered a professional holiday for all representatives of the “fourth estate”. Often, the ceremony of presenting various literary prizes and honoring the most distinguished literary figures are timed to this day.