Writers Unite to Protect the Freedom of Other Writers Worldwide

NEW YORK, July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To help set the stage for one of the world's most prestigious human rights events—presented by literary and human rights organization PEN American Center—GlobalWorks Group was selected to create a documentary on Nasrin Sotoudeh, a writer, lawyer and leader of the women's and children's rights movement in Iran, where she was sentenced this past January to 11 years in prison for, among other things, "acting against national security."

"We were approached to help make clear and urgent the need to stand up for freedom of expression," commented Inaki Escudero, GlobalWorks' Global Creative Director.  "So we created three videos that made censorship of expression tangible as well as exemplified how words are the seeds that can inspire social change," added Mr. Escudero.

Laszlo Jakab Orsos, Director of the PEN World Voices Festival, stated, "We had the opportunity to form a strategic partnership with GlobalWorks.  The agency developed a video that communicates the harm censorship and book banning brings to society as a whole."  He added, "With these video works we wanted to emphasize that without freedom to write and publish, we can't possibly build a society of open-minded and free-spirited people, which is the foundation of every democracy."

During PEN's annual event, Ms. Sotoudeh was awarded the 2011 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award; Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi accepted, on behalf of the imprisoned honoree.  The honor, now in its 25th year, recognizes an international literary figure who has been persecuted or imprisoned for exercising or defending the right to freedom of expression.

"This prestigious event combined with the organization's mission are poignant reminders that many people around the world are far less fortunate and lack free expression," said Jose E. Velez-Silva, Director of Client Services at GlobalWorks.  

"This creative assignment was a very personal one for me," said GlobalWorks Chairman and CEO Yuri Radzievsky.  "I was born and educated in the USSR, where human rights and freedom of expression were always in question," Mr. Radzievsky said. "It was an honor to help further PEN's mission and draw attention to Nasrin Sotoudeh's vision and accomplishments."

In closing Mr. Radzievsky stated, "I had the fortune to land in the United States to live in a country without censorship or fear for our human rights."  

About PEN

PEN American Center is the largest of the 145 centers of PEN International, the world's oldest human rights organization and the oldest international literary organization.  The Freedom to Write Program of PEN American Center works to protect the freedom of the written word wherever it is imperiled.  For more information, visit www.pen.org.

About GlobalWorks

GlobalWorks builds brands without borders—those seeking greater growth across the entire cultural and linguistic compass of the U.S. and around the globe.  See its work at www.globalworks.com.

SOURCE GlobalWorks Group