The literary and journalistic communities are joining forces for the first time in Maltese history to set up a voluntary organisation that seeks to safeguard freedom of expression, among other pursuits. Writers and journalists are in the process of setting up a PEN Centre in Malta, an offshoot of PEN International – a worldwide association promoting friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers, which fights for freedom of expression and represents the conscience of world literature. “It’s a first for Malta to have such a diverse group of professionals with unique strengths sitting at the same table, collaborating and advocating for this cause in a structured environment,” said writer Maria Mangion, who officially kicked off the procedure to establish PEN Malta.