Welcome

Mexico was among the first countries to join International PEN, one of the world’s earliest human rights organizations.  As president of Mexico’s PEN Club it is an honour for me  to continue PEN Club Mexico’s longstanding tradition, which was established by writers such as Octavo Paz, Gabriel Zaid, Elena Poinaitowska, Ramon Xirau, Julieta Campos, Eduardo Lizalde, Víctor Manuel Mendiola, and Manuel Ulacia Altolaguirre, among others. 

From its  inception the founders of PEN Club Mexico saw the organization as an international body. These writers welcomed members to join from other countries since frontiers and nationalistic ideals are just one of many ways to enforce silence and PEN represents members not countries.  Because of this position writers from other places have always been a part of this centre.  I would also like to underscore here the prominence of two other PEN centres in the country:  San Miguel de Allende and Guadalajara .
 
In Mexico we are facing  censorship of a new and terrifying order: the persecution and killing of journalists by criminal organizations.  The valour of Mexico’s local and international journalists who cover these issues is formidable.  Mexico's PEN is grateful to all the world’s PEN centres for their constant attention to this grave problem.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Clement
President PEN Club Mexico