12-19 April2024
12-19 AprilAccording to UNHCR figures, there are 35.3 million refugees in the world. An increasing number of people are forced to leave their country against their will, in search of a safe place to live. In 2023, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior received 163,218 applications for international protection, 37% more than the previous year.
An application for international protection is typically presented in the country of arrival by means of an interview, at which the asylum seeker explains the reasons for their persecution. It is vital for that individual that the person acting as translator record their account precisely. This is a complex task, bearing in mind that an asylum seeker will be disoriented, is forced to verbalise what are sometimes traumatic situations, and the interpreter is there only link to the country of arrival.
To an extent, then, the interpreter ends up performing a role of mediation in these interviews. Their task as mediator must be performed in accordance with the fundamental ethical principles of the interpreter's profession: quality, reliability, humility, professionalism, confidentiality, impartiality, integrity and empathy. We would mention in this regard that Article 15 of the European Directive on Procedures for International Protection provides certain guidelines: the interpreter should be of the same sex as the applicant, they should not wear a military uniform, and the interview should be conducted in the language preferred by the applicant. In 2022, Spain received asylum applications from 126 different nationalities, requiring interpreters or translators for as many as 59 different languages.
