Day of the Imprisoned Writer2026 · Date · History · Messages
PEN International states that each year on 15 November it marks the Day of the Imprisoned Writer; PEN traces the campaign to its Writers in Prison Committee in 1981.
About Day of the Imprisoned Writer
Day of the Imprisoned Writer is marked on 15 November by PEN International and its global network to focus attention on writers who are imprisoned or persecuted because of their writing or expression.
The observance is an advocacy and solidarity campaign rather than a public holiday. Its authoritative history is documented by PEN International, which states that its Writers in Prison Committee established the day in 1981.
Why Day of the Imprisoned Writer matters
The day is intended to keep individual writers and freedom-of-expression cases visible, while giving PEN centres and supporters a common annual date for letters, events, readings and public discussion.
A responsible guide should distinguish the observance from a claim that every featured case has the same legal or political circumstances; PEN selects cases from different countries and contexts.
History of Day of the Imprisoned Writer
PEN International states that its Writers in Prison Committee established the Day of the Imprisoned Writer in 1981.
PEN marks the campaign each year on 15 November and described the 2021 edition as the campaign’s 40th anniversary.
The reviewed PEN sources do not explicitly identify the exact first completed observance in 1981 or explain why 15 November was originally selected.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
PEN International Writers in Prison Committee
PEN International states that the Day of the Imprisoned Writer was established in 1981 by its Writers in Prison Committee.
PEN International Writers in Prison Committee
1981 PEN International Writers in Prison Committee establishment of the Day of the Imprisoned Writer
PEN International and its Writers in Prison Committee
Current PEN pages continue to organize and publish the annual 15 November campaign.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe Day of the Imprisoned Writer
Read PEN International’s current campaign material and the documented case summaries before sharing information.
Learn about the Writers in Prison Committee and how PEN documents threats against writers.
Use a library, school or reading group discussion to compare how freedom of expression is protected in different legal systems.
When discussing an individual case, separate verified facts from allegations, legal claims and advocacy positions.
Day of the Imprisoned Writer Facts
The Day of the Imprisoned Writer is marked on 15 November.
PEN International says the observance was established in 1981 by its Writers in Prison Committee.
PEN described the 2021 campaign as the 40th anniversary.
PEN centres around the world participate in the annual campaign.
The reviewed sources do not establish a separate formal legal instrument or the original date-selection rationale.
Day of the Imprisoned Writer Messages
On the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, take time to read verified accounts of writers whose work has placed them at risk.
May this observance encourage careful attention to the facts, the writers involved and the legal contexts surrounding each case.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
PEN International — Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2021 (opens in a new tab)
PEN International — Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2026 (opens in a new tab)
First Party Organizer
PEN International — Writers in Prison Committee (opens in a new tab)
PEN International — Protecting Imprisoned Writers (opens in a new tab)
First Party Organizer
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Day of the Imprisoned Writer?
15 November each year The documented recurrence rule is: 15 November.
Does Day of the Imprisoned Writer fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Day of the Imprisoned Writer an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: International / PEN International campaign. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Day of the Imprisoned Writer?
The reviewed sources identify PEN International Writers in Prison Committee as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as PEN International and its Writers in Prison Committee.
Is Day of the Imprisoned Writer international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: International / PEN International campaign. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-08.
When is the Day of the Imprisoned Writer?
PEN International marks it each year on 15 November.
Who established the Day of the Imprisoned Writer?
PEN International states that its Writers in Prison Committee established the observance in 1981.
Is it a public holiday?
No. It is an international PEN advocacy and solidarity campaign, not a public holiday.
Other observances on November 15
These observances are also listed on November 15, 2026.
America Recycles Day®
Keep America Beautiful identifies America Recycles Day on November 15 as its national recycling-awareness program
International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime
A/RES/78/267
National Philanthropy Day®
AFP history plus U.S. and Canadian primary legal records establish Douglas Freeman’s origin role, the first official 1986 celebration, a date-specific U.S. federal designation, and permanen…
Proclamation of the Republic — Brazil
The 15 November 1889 historical event is the anniversary anchor. Federal legal sources show November 15 in the national-commemoration framework by Decree 155-B of 1890 and as a national hol…
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
UN endorsement in 2005; A/RES/60/5