In this section you can find EWC statements on particular topics.
Forced liquidation: The European Writers’ Council stands with its member, the Union of Belarusian Writers
Judge Ihar Milto of the Supreme Court in Minsk has decided on 1 October 2021 to shut down the independent Union of Belarusian Writers (UBW). Once again the illegitimate Lukashenka regime proves its willingness to violently suppress democracy and free speech. ...
#freewordsBelarus: European Writers stand with the Union of Belarusian Writers
In response to the news that the Belarusian Justice Ministry intends to liquidate the independent Union of Belarusian Writers, the European Writers Council (EWC) stands up high against the outrageous violation of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Association. ...
EWC demands support for writers, translators and cultural workers fleeing Belarus
On 14 July 2021, the Directorate “Combating Organised Crime and Corruption” of the Belarusian Ministry of the Interior has conducted a nationwide ‘radical cleansing’ operation against independent associations of writers, journalists, cultural workers, and human rights organisations, including EWC Member, the Union of Belarusian Writers, and PEN Belarus. PEN Belarus is about to be closed by the Government on August ...
The EWC condemns the attacks of the dictatorial Lukashenko regime on its member, the Union of Belarusian Writers, as well as on the writers’ organisation PEN Belarus in Minsk
An unprecedented wave of violations against independent cultural and human rights organisations rolls through the suffering country: ...
Playing off the right to education and culture, and the authors’ right against each other harms a democracy
As the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held the 41th session of its Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) online, EWC President Nina George submitted on behalf of the European Writers’ Council the following statement on Exceptions and Limitations. ...
Investing in PLR is investing in Human Rights, in Democracy, and in a sustainable Economy.
As the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held the 41th session of its Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) online, EWC President Nina George submitted on behalf of the European Writers’ Council the following statement on the proposal for a WIPO-Study on Public Lending Right. ...
Launch of the EUIPO Out of Commerce Works Portal: EWC President Nina George stresses the need of a reliable opt-out mechanism for authors
On June 7, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) presented the newly launched portal for out of commerce works. Eight speakers discussed the challenges authors and cultural heritage institutions may face. During this online event, the EUIPO presents the newly launched portal for out of commerce works, and explains how CHIs, CMOs and rights holders, for example authors and ...
WIPO: EWC President’s testimonial on the “integrity of the digital society”
Photo: Emmanuel Berrod. Copyright: WIPO. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 IGO License. ...
International & European Solidarity for Belarus and EWC Member The Union of Belarusian Writers (UBW)
The Members of the European Writers’ Council support its member the Union of Belarusian Writers in its efforts for democracy, free speech and new fair elections. Several european and international networks from the cultural and the book world joined the movement. ...
The EWC condemns the detaining of poets and translators in Minsk and the action against Nobel Laureate Svetlana Alexievich
The European Writers’ Council condemns the detaining of three poets and translators in Minsk and the action against the Nobel Prize winner for literature, Svetlana Alexievich Yesterday evening the poets and translators, Hanna Komar, Uladz Liankevich and Siarzh Miadzvedzeu of the Belarusian PEN Centre, were arrested and taken to Akrestina Prison. Today, 9 September, police teams are searching the house ...
The European Writers’ Council condemns the criminal case opened by Alexander Lukashenko against the Nobel Prize winner for literature, Svetlana Alexievich, and the Coordination Council in Belarus
The European Writers’ Council demands a peaceful development in Belarus, which will allow its citizens freedom and democratic participation. The EWC supports its member the Union of Belarusian Writers in its efforts for democracy, free speech and new fair elections. ...
EWC Statement on Belarus: we urge the governments of the European Union not to stand by in silence
The European Writers’ Council vehemently condemns the massive violations of free speech and human rights in Belarus The European Writers’ Council is highly concerned about the violent and systematic oppression of peaceful protests against the official results of the presidential elections and against the autocratic President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. ...
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EWC supports the EP text
Brussels, October 22, 2018 The European Writers’ Council letter to European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip, Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, corresponding Cabinet Members, and European Commission Copyright Unit, ...
EWC supports Sanasto’s Position on Article 12 and Recital 36
Brussels, May 17, 2018 The European Writers’ Council wrote a message of support of the compromise amendment concerning Article 12 and Recital 36 proposed by Sanasto, the Finnish Literary Copyright Society on 16/5/2018, of the draft Directive on Copyright. ...
EWC on Article 12 To MEPs of JURI, Legal Affairs Committee
This statement was sent to Axel Voss MEP, rapporteur, the shadow rapporteurs and all JURI MEPs, while they were holding discussions on article 12: “The European Writers’ Council supports the compromise amendment concerning Article 12 and Recital 36 ...
