Led by the German Publishers Association (Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e.V.), the Free Words Alliance (FWA) met at the Salon du Livre 2017, in Paris, to compare advocacy agendas, share updates and set common goals, with a particular focus on the growing freedom of expression challenges in Turkey.
The IPA has a focused understanding of the freedom to publish violations involving Turkish writers and publishers through its member, the Turkish Publishers Association, which is also part of the FWA.
The Paris meeting was hosted by Pierre Dutilleul, managing director of the French Syndicat national de l’édition (SNE), and chaired by Alexander Skipis, manging director of the Börsenverein.
Representatives of cultural and media organizations from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway attended, while the IPA was represented by Kristenn Einarsson, Chair of the Freedom to Publish Committee, IPA Secretary General José Borghino, and IPA Director of Communications and Freedom to Publish, Ben Steward.