The judges credited PEN (the international association of Poets, Playwrights, Essayists and Novelists) with an effective campaign of raising asylum seeker issues within the Australian conscience and said it was able to bring national and international pressure to bear in seeking the release of asylum seekers in detention.
PEN Sydney created a Writers in Detention Committee in 2001 and, through members Tom Keneally and Rosie Scott, organised the International PEN's Day of the Imprisoned Writers which focused on the plight of asylum seekers in detention in Australia. The work of writers recently released from detention was featured at the Sydney and Melbourne Writers Festivals. PEN also editedAnother Country - an anthology of writing from asylum seekers.
Community Award
Winner
