Post on 24-Dec-2015
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Sign language interpreting in legal settings:
a European overview
Marinella Salami, efsli president
European Forum of Sign Language
Interpreters
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Sign language users & interpreters in Europe
�10.000 sign language
interpreters
�750.000 sign language users
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Rights of sign language users
National Laws & Acts
UNCRPD (2007)
Charter of Fundamental Rights (2010)
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
efsli – legal settings
Member of EULITA
TRAFUT project
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
SURVEY
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Survey – our data
Total 94 respondents
Individual SL interpreters
(67%)
National Associations (16%)
Training Programmes (10%)
Agencies (3%)
Other (5%)
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Survey – respondents
Mostly from: UK, Norway & Netherlands
But also: Austria, Albania, Belgium,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania,
Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and
Switzerland.2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Experience in legal settings
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Survey – our questions
European Directive 2010/64/EU
Article 2 – Right to interpretationArticle 3 – Right to translation of essential
documentsArticle 4 – Costs of interpretation & translationArticle 5 – Quality of interpretation & translationArticle 6 – TrainingArticle 7 – Record-keeping
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
RIGHTS
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
The European Directive 2010/64
What do SL interpreters know about the Directive?
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Have you heard about the European Directive 2010/64 on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings?
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Right to sign language interpretation State of the art
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Right to sign language interpretation State of the art “They say it is but in reality the legal
settings rarely provide it”. “It's provided by law but not always used
that way”. “The right is provided but not applied in
reality”. “There is no Law providing sign language
interpreting, but sign language interpreters do attend court sessions if needed”.
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Right to sign language interpretation State of the art “I don't think by law but in 90% they use a SL
interpreter. Because SL was recognised in Flanders in 2005”.
“I don't know if it is provided by law, but in criminal proceedings court/ police etc always try to arrange an interpreter”.
“Not in criminal proceedings, Some judges and lawyers know that there are SL interpreters and try to find someone available”
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Right to sign language interpretation
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Right to sign language interpretation?
“Some say they have a right to have an interpreter, some say they don't. Even if they [Deaf people] get the permission to use one, there is no way of knowing how to get an interpreter on the setting. The procedure is always unclear, always different and includes a whole lot of phone calls to figure out...”
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Translation of documents
Sight translation provided on request
Deaf translators are contracted to provide translations of documents
It depends on deaf people’s reading abilities
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Is the sign language interpretation of questioning and hearings by an investigative or judicial authority video recorded?
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
13%
87%
Do you use new technologies in legal settings?
Yes
No
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Technologies – benefits
Better access to interpreters
Efficient use of time (less traveling, service
to more in less time)
Interpreters can work from anywhere
Low cost solution
Opportunity (through video recordings) to
verify
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Technologies – challenges
2D instead of 3D interpreting No direct contact – crucial in sign language
(limited signing space, not all parties visible) Few interpreters who have the skills (training
needed) Awareness & knowledge on the use of
technologies (interpreters & other professionals in legal setting)
Availability of technology, fast connection, good sound, etc
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Technologies – future
Do not know – hard to predict Remotely Emergency legal situations (if live is
impossible) Only specific situations, such as
consultations (not in the courts) Matching cultures, languages, expertise and
other requirements
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
No national registration body for
SLI in legal settings, but ..
Interpreting agencies
Deaf associations
Individual interpreters are recruited
directly
List of sworn interpreters/qualified
interpreters
Relatives of Deaf people are contacted2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Costs of SL interpretation
Depending on the procedure itself:
GovernmentPoliceCourt
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Rates per hour
They vary greatly per country
Lower than in other interpreting settings
Reimbursement - Expenses? Travelling time?
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Costs of SL interpretation
“Due to cutbacks, there have been proposals to significantly reduce payment for interpreters in legal settings, which is leading to a 'race to the bottom' in terms of price. This will impact on the quality of interpretation offered - who is willing to study for 4 years to work for €12 per hour and no costs for travel? Commitment to quality seems to be dependent on economic matters rather than a commitment to equality before the law in any meaningful way”.
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
How is quality of sign language interpretation in legal settings
ensured in your country?
National Registers
National Association of Interpreters
Some training & ad-hoc workshops provided by experienced legal interpreters
Some courts are allowed to decide who they want to be the interpreter in their proceedings. It is then possible to make use of an "interpreter" without any qualification or certification.
No quality assessment
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
CONCLUSIONS
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Conclusions - I
Sign language interpreting is a young
profession
More trained interpreters are needed to
comply with the EU Directive
More awareness needed > TRAFUT
small step
Proper remuneration needed
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Conclusions - II Remote interpreting:
More attention for special requirements when working with SLI
Limitations: not a solution in all legal
settings
Research:
Educational needs of SLI in legal
settings
Qualified and trained SLI: protect
human rights of sign language users2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp
BDU conference - 28 September 2012
www.efsli.org
Marinella Salami:
marinella.salami@efsli.org
www.efsli.org
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp