Ex Tempore is a literary magazine published annually by the United Nations Society of Writers, or in French, Societé des écrivains des Nations Unies. The magazine was started in 1989. The editors seek contributions that are "crisp, impromptu, and as far away as possible from the stale UN jargon of declarations, resolutions and reports." 27 numbers have been issued.
The Society of Writers was founded on 14 August 1989 by Sergio Chaves of Argentina, Leonor Sampaio of Brazil and Alfred de Zayas of the United States.
Following the general assembly of UNSW on 25 November 2016, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the magazine's officers are:
President: Marko Stanovic
Vice-president: Carla Edelenbos
Secretary: Amos Wama Taporaie
Treasurer: Ivaylo Petrov
Editor-in-chief: Alfred de Zayas
After 15 years as president of the Society, de Zayas retired from the position on 15 December 2005, remaining as editor of this literary magazine.
Membership in the Society of Writers is open to active and retired staff of the United Nations, specialized agencies, CERN, Permanent Missions and Observer Missions, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organizations and the press corps. There are about 80 members currently in UNSW.
Volume 19. Because 2008 was the International Year of Languages Ex Tempore featured languages as its main theme. It included 148 pages with poetry, short stories and drama written by 43 authors in 14 languages, including Latin.
Volume 20. 160 pages in 13 languages, including Hebrew and Esperanto.
Volume 21. Dedicated to "music, the international language"; 104 pages (December 2010).
Volume 22. Dedicated to Jean-Jacques Rousseau; 168 pages (December 2011).
Volume 23. Dedicated to the Human Right to Peace.
Volume 24. Dedicated to the Verdi/Wagner bicentennial, swans,cows, love.(158 pages)
Volume 25. Dedicated to 25 years of UN writers.(184 pages)
Volume 26. Dedicated to the environment, COP21 and reconciliation.(168 pages)
Volume 27. Dedicated to the history of poetry and poetic correspondence.(172 pages)
On 5 October 2008 Ex Tempore hosted the Mahmoud Darwish memorial lecture, during which poems of the recently deceased Palestinian poet were read out in Arabic, and in English and French translation.
On 23 January 2009 the magazine hosted the traditional salon, attended by 52 people. The 14th annual salon took place on 22 January 2010, with 73 participants, and the 15th was on 21 January 2011.
On 22 January 2010, 14th annual salon
On 21 January 2011, 15th annual salon.
On 20 January 2012, 16th annual salon.
On 28 June 2012, Jean-Jacques Rousseau workshop.
On 25 January 2013, 17th annual salon.
On 24 January 2014, 18th annual salon.
On 14 August 2014, celebration of 25 years UNSW at the Press Bar, Palais des Nations.
On 14 October 2014, UN Library event on 25 years Ex Tempore.,
On 23 January 2015 the 19th annual salon was held with 63 poets and essayists attending
On 22 January 2016 the 20th annual salon was held with 61 participants.
On 16 November 2016 - conference/concert with Eric Noyer and Marie Neeser
On 20 January 2017 - 21st annual salon with 54 in the audience and 17 readers.
Nedd Willard
David Walters
