sign language interpreting in legal settings a european overview
DESCRIPTION
Sign Language Interpreting in legal settings A European overview. European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (efsli) Marinella Salami, efsli vice-president. 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Madrid. efsli – representing SLI in Europe. Sharing information and experience - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Sign Language Interpreting in legal settings
A European overview
2012 TRAFUT workshop - Madrid
European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (efsli)
Marinella Salami, efsli vice-president
February 2012
www.efsli.org
efsli – representing SLI in Europe
Sharing information and experience
Improve the standards
Provide advice and support
Present interests
Membership
February 2012
www.efsli.org
efsli - members
27 full members: national associations of sign language interpreters
16 associate members: organisations, for example interpreter training programmes
275 individual members: interpreters or individuals
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Survey – our data
Total 94 respondents
Individual SL interpreters
(67%)
National Associations (16%)
Training Programmes (10%)
Agencies (3%)
Other (5%)
February 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.
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Experience in legal settings
February 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
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Right to sign language interpretation State of the art
February 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”.
February 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”
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Right to sign language interpretation
February 2012
www.efsli.org
If a suspected or accused Sign Language user/Deaf person needs an interpreter for a criminal proceeding, what is the procedure to follow?
Interpreting agencies Deaf associations Individual interpreters are contacted directly Register & database List of sworn interpreters/qualified interpreters Relatives of Deaf people
February 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...”
February 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
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Team interpreting in court
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Costs of SL interpretation
Depending on the procedure itself:
GovernmentPoliceCourt
February 2012
www.efsli.org
SL interpreting fee per hour
February 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”.
February 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
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Is there a National Register only for legal sign language interpreters in your country?
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Is the sign language interpretation of questioning and hearings by an investigative or judicial authority video recorded?
February 2012
www.efsli.org
February 2012
www.efsli.org
The European Directive 2010/64
What do SL interpreters know about the Directive?
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Have you heard about the European Directive 2010/64 on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings?
February 2012
www.efsli.org
As far as you know, is your National Government working on the implementation of the European Directive 2010/64?
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Is your National Association of Sign Language Interpreters lobbying for the implementation of the European Directive 2010/64?
February 2012
www.efsli.org
Challenges
No full recognition of the profession of
SLI
Not all sign languages are formally
recognised
Working for a language minority
community
Limited (or no) training, funding and
payment
More research is needed
