For journalists
An organization called the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) helps some people who are in danger because they are journalists. This website explains how to contact the Committee to Protect Journalists.
For writers and artists
Writers and artists may qualify for ICORN residency, which is a program that relocates writers and artists who are threatened for expressing their opinions or ideas.
IRAP is independent from ICORN and PEN International. IRAP does not operate or manage the ICORN program. The information in this guidance is from ICORN’s website on April 2020.
Am I Eligible?
- You may be eligible if you are threatened or persecuted because of opinions or ideas expressed through your professional work or art. ICORN considers writers or artists to include:
- Creative writers. This includes writers of novels, poems, short stories, screenplays, lyrics, films, theatre plays, and cartoons.
- Non-fiction writers. This includes writers of academic writing, essays, textbooks, journalism, prose, technical writing, and blogging.
- Editors, publishers, and translators.
- Artists, including photographers, cartoonists, painters, performance artists, etc.
- Musicians, including composers and musicians of all genres.
- You must be able to document literary or artistic production. This typically means having work published by others and not just self-published.
- You need to document that you are either:
- At risk as a direct result of your writing or artistic production. This could include danger of being killed, abducted, physically attacked or “disappeared.”
- Sentenced to (or at risk of being sentenced to) a prison term by the authorities in your country. This must be as a direct result of your writing or artistic production.
- Unable to express yourself freely through your writing or artistic production. This must be due to fear of persecution from the government or other entities inthe country where you reside.
Application Process
- Complete the ICORN Application Form. Provide all the requested information and documents. ICORN states that all information will be treated confidentially. The ICORN application form is available on this website.
- Submit the form by email to icorn@icorn.org or mail to:
ICORN Administration Center
P.O. Box: 310
4002 Stavanger
Norway
Important Notes:
- If you are unable to fill in the form yourself, a contact person may submit the application on your behalf.
- State clearly in the application if ICORN’S Administration Centre should not contact you directly.
- Note in your application if you are unable to communicate in English or if someone else translated the information on your application for you.
- Applying to ICORN is free.
- ICORN cannot receive zip-files. If you have large files, please send in multiple e-mails instead of compressing the files.
How is the Application Processed?
ICORN assesses each applicant’s needs. They use PEN International’s WiPC for reference checks and for research on declared danger and professional activity. PEN will get in touch with your references and may contact you for more information. ICORN cannot help everyone who applies for an ICORN residency.
What is the timeline?
ICORN will tell you the result of the assessment as soon as they process your application. This may take some time. You should investigate other opportunities while waiting for ICORN to decide your application.
In the meantime, keep ICORN updated of changes to your situation. This includes resettlement, moving, refugee status, new threats, new family members, etc.
If this is an emergency, ICORN rarely has the resources to remove a writer/artist immediately from a threatening situation. Since ICORN cannot guarantee a residency, or immediate action, you should do whatever you can to seek other options to ensure your safety.
- If an application is approved by ICORN, your profile will be sent to member cities looking to invite a new writer. Even if your application is approved by ICORN, you are not guaranteed a residency. To receive an offer of residency, an ICORN city must decide to invite you. ICORN has no authority or influence with governments and must follow the laws and regulations of each host country and city. You cannot choose your city of refuge.
If a city invites you for a residency, you will receive the invitation from ICORN by e-mail.
- If you accept the invitation, ICORN will put you in direct contact with a city representative. They will help you with visa and other practical matters. The process is slightly different if you are invited to a Norwegian city.
- If you decline an invitation from an ICORN city, ICORN cannot guarantee that another city will invite you. Declining an offer will not, however, affect your candidacy in any way. It will not affect, positively or negatively, the way that you are presented to other cities.
The conditions for ICORN residencies vary from city to city. All applicants invited by a city of refuge are considered ICORN writers or artists and are encouraged to continue their work and take part in both local and ICORN activities.