ICORN, the network of which all six Shahrazad cities are members, has been established as an international membership organisation, headquartered in Stavanger, Norway. During its General Assembly in Barcelona 20-22 April, the network's current 21 member cities from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK elected the following member city delegates to form the first executive board of the new organisation:
Mr. Peter Ripken (Chair, Frankfurt City of Refuge
Ms. Dagny Anker Gevelt (Vice Chair), Kristiansand City of Refuge
Mr. Chris Gribble, Norwich City of Refuge
Mr. Philippe Ollé-Laprune, Casa Refugio Mexico City
Ms. Raffaella Salierno, Barcelona City of Refuge
60 writers, delegates and observers from more than 20 countries were gathered during the Barcelona assembly, among them representatives from and the president of Cities of Refuge North America (CoRNA), the writer Russell Banks. Since more than 30 persecuted writers from worldwide are waiting for placement in an ICORN member city, one of the first tasks for the newly elected ICORN Board will be to encourage former CoRNA cities and new European and non-European member cities of refuge to join the new ICORN organisation.
