The United Nations sustainable development goals and public service interpreting

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Abstract Summary

This paper argues that public service interpreters are indispensable for the implementation of at least three United Nations sustainable goals. A fourth sustainable goal relates to decent work and quality jobs, significant issues for public service interpreters in many countries. Can we draw on the UN goals to improve the working conditions of professional public service interpreters?

Submission ID :

AILA2565

Submission Type

Featured

Abstract :

In 2015 the United Nations adopted 17 sustainable development goals as part of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. This paper argues that public service interpreters are pivotal in contributing to at least three of these goals.

For example, goal 10 is reduced inequalities, something that professional interpreters help authorities address through their work in hospitals, courts and employment tribunals. Goal 3 is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, an area where the input of medical interpreters is essential to ensure that meaningful communication takes place. One of the aims of goal 16 is to provide access to justice for all. Again, this is not possible without the input of competent interpreters in police stations and the courts. Another aim of goal 16 is to ‘build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels’. Again, institutions cannot be considered inclusive if they do not provide professional interpreting for people who are not proficient in the relevant language. However, there have been retrograde steps in Denmark for example where patients who have been living in the country for over three years are expected to speak Danish or pay for interpreters when accessing health services (The Local) while in the United States, immigration court interpreters have been replaced by subtitled orientation videos (Kopan).

Moving to interpreters, goal 8 focuses on decent work and economic growth and recommends the creation of conditions ‘that allow people to have quality jobs that stimulate the economy while not harming the environment’. Sadly, in many jurisdictions, public service interpreters’ work cannot be considered ‘quality jobs’. In some countries rates of pay have been traditionally low while in others they have been cut. The sustainability of public service interpreters is an important issue that links in with the UN goals.

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