Human Rights Award For JK Rowling

JK Rowling is to receive the Pen/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award by literary and human rights group Pen America on 16 May in New York.

09:55 28 January 2016

Pen (Poets, Essayists and Novelists) America will honour Harry Potter author JK Rowling in recognition of her support for free expression and charitable causes.

 

Pen America said that it aims "to ensure that people everywhere have the freedom to create literature, to convey information and ideas, to express their views, and to make it possible for everyone to access the views, ideas, and literatures of others".

 

A statement from the organisation said: "Since her rise from single mother to literary superstar, JK Rowling has used her talents and stature as a writer to fight inequality on both a local and global level.

 

"Her charitable trust, Volant, supports causes in the United Kingdom and abroad that alleviate social exclusion, with particular emphasis on women and children."

Meanwhile, Rowling said: "I'm deeply honoured to receive this award and humbled that my work has been recognised as having moral value by an organisation I so admire," she said.

 

"I've long been a supporter of Pen, which does invaluable work on behalf of imprisoned writers and in defence of freedom of speech."