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27. Sep 2016

Umeå joins ICORN

Umeå.Photo.
Umeå

The Swedish City of Umeå officially joined ICORN at a signing ceremony at the Freedom of Expression stand during the 2016 Gothenburg Book Fair. Umeå is the 20th Swedish member of the network.

The signing ceremony took place at the 2016 Gothenburg Book Fair, at the Freedom of Expression stand. With Freedom of Expression as the main theme of this year’s Gothenburg book fair, in joint effort with the University of Gothenburg, Scholars at Risk and Swedish PEN, ICORN was behind the stand that featured more than 50 events during the four days fair.

Upon signing, Umeå also became 60th member city of the network committing to the values of hospitality and solidarity, to host writers and artists at risk.

Umeå signs at Freedom of Expression stand at the 2016 Gothenburg bookfair. From left: Bongi MacDermott, Swedish Arts Council, Lars Sahlin, Umeå Municipality, Leif Mårtensson, Umeå Municipality, Elisabeth Dyvik, ICORN and Annika Strömberg, Uppsala City of Refuge and ICORN Board. Photo.

The ceremony took place during the programme “What is a City of Refuge”, with the Head of Cultural Department in Umeå, Lars Sahlin, Managing Coordinator in Umeå, Leif Mårtensson, Programme Director in ICORN, Elisabeth Dyvik, and Annika Strömberg from the ICORN Board.

Elisabeth Dyvik, Programme Director in ICORN says:

“During the Book Fair, we have heard strong testimonies by writers and artists hosted by cities of refuge in Sweden and Norway; from Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Bangladesh and many other countries where freedom of expression is under great pressure. We are proud to have such a stronghold of cities and partners across Sweden in the network. With Umeå joining ICORN, 20 Swedish cities have committed to providing refuge for persecuted writers and artists, giving them a safe platform to continue their work. Each city of refuge make a tremendous difference, not only for the writer and artist hosted, but also for those who are forced to silence.“

Inauguration of the Freedom of Expression stand at the 2016 Gothenburg Book Fair, in cooperation with Scholars at Risk, Gothenburg University and ICORN. Photo.

ICORN Cities of Refuge in Sweden per September 2016: Dalarna, Eskilstuna, Gävle, Gothenburg, Helsongborg,Region Jönköpings län, Karlstad, Linköping, Malmö, Norrköping, Skellefteå, Sandviken, Skåne, Sigtuna, Stockholm, Umeå, Uddevalla, Uppsala, Växjö, Västra Götalandsregionen.

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Globally, more than 80 ICORN Cities of Refuge offer a safe space where writers, artists, and journalists at risk can live and work through the ICORN Programme.

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