4.11.2. New initiatives
In 2022, EU+ countries implemented proactive measures to address the needs of victims of human trafficking, including improving the provision of interpretation. For example, the Ministry of Justice in Iceland published information material on indicators of human trafficking in three languages (Icelandic, English and Polish), with the aim of helping to identify potential victims of human trafficking.Government of Iceland | Ríkisstjórn Íslands. (2022, March 15). Þekkir þú vísbendingar um mansal? [Do you know the signs of human trafficking?]. https://www.stjornarradid.is/efst-a-baugi/frettir/stok-frett/2022/03/15… In Luxembourg, new safeguards were adopted by courts to provide interpretation to all victims of human trafficking.United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2022, April 20). Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Commend Luxembourg for Introducing Universal Health Care, Ask About Lack of Data on Ethnicity and Online Hate Speech. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/04/experts-committee-elimi…
Countries developed more guidance and support material to interpreters throughout 2022. On International Women’s Day, Belgium announced a series of training sessions for interpreters on intercultural communication, with a focus on women and victims of human trafficking.Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons | Commissariaatgeneraal voor de vluchtelingen en de staatlozen | Commissariat Général aux Réfugiés et aux Apatrides. (2022, March 8). Journée internationale des femmes 2022 [International women's day 2022]. https://www.cgra.be/fr/actualite/journee-internationale-des-femmes-2022
BAMF published a revised code of ethics for interpreters in asylum procedures, an updated booklet with general information and recommendations for interpreters, a new webpage on interpretation in asylum procedures, and bilingual terminology lists on asylum and SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity).Federal Office for Migration and Refugees | Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. (July 2022). Asyl- und Flüchtlingsschutz Hinweise für einen erfolgreichen Dolmetscheinsatz [Asylum and refugee protection Tips for a successful Interpreting assignment]. https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Karriere/broschuere-dolmetsch…; Federal Office for Migration and Refugees | Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. (2023, May 10). Sprachmittlung im Asylverfahren [Language mediation in the asylum procedure]. https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/AsylFluechtlingsschutz/Sprachmittlung/spr…; Federal Office for Migration and Refugees | Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. (2022, August 25). Broschüre: Dolmetscheinsatz [Brochure: Interpreting assignment].
In Finland, a multilingual glossary on housing and social security was developed to provide a new working tool for interpreters.Diakonia University of Applied Sciences | Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu. (2022, February 15). Monikielinen sanasto kotoutujien ja tulkkien tukena [A multilingual vocabulary to support immigrants and interpreters was created through cooperation]. https://dialogi.diak.fi/2022/02/15/monikielinen-sanasto-kotoutujien-ja-…
UNHCR updated its "Handbook for Interpreters in Asylum Proceedings" to reflect changes in procedures and add specific sections on remote interpretation and interpretation for groups.United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2022). Handbook for Interpreters in Asylum Procedures. https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8b3be4.htmlUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2022). Handbook for Interpreters in Asylum Procedures. https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8b3be4.html OFPRA in France also updated its charter for interpreters issued in 2018.French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons | Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides. (2022). Charte de l'interprétariat [Interpretation Charter]. https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/libraries/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sites/… A new call for proposals from the Norwegian Fund was launched in Bulgaria, which aims to improve specific services directed at asylum applicants, including translation and interpretation.European Website on Integration. (2022, July 25). Funding opportunity: Improving national asylum and migration capacity in Bulgaria. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/funding-opportunity-impro… The IOM supported a total of 704 persons accommodated in the centres of the State Agency for Refugees with interpretation to access different services.
There has been a growing trend of former applicants working as interpreters during the asylum procedure. This was seen in 2022 in IrelandMultiLingual (2022, August 10). Translit helps Ukrainian refugees become trained community interpreters. MultiLingual Media LLC. https://multilingual.com/translit-interpreter-training/ and Lithuania, where persons registering for temporary protection were assisted by their fellow citizens in registration and other procedures. This practice proved to be very effective as the Ukrainian interpreters had experience with the migration patterns and the trauma associated with the war.InfoMigrants. (2022, February 15). 'Mistaken for Google translate': Asylum interpreters often overlooked. https://www.infomigrants.net/fr/post/38494/mistaken-for-google-translat…
