First Edition: PEN International

Start your day with the facts.

In 2025, the 91st PEN International Congress in Kraków passed a resolution on the role of writers during a breakdown of peace and international order, and the urgent need for an active opposition.

Today, Viv Groskop (PEN International Writers Circle) speaks to writers and journalists – including poet Lemn Sissay, author My Name is Why and Let the Light Pour In – about the vital role of writers to defend facts, propel empathy, and hold governments accountable in a time of authoritarianism, disinformation, and inequality.