1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org efsli – legal settings  Member of EULITA  TRAFUT project 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

5. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org SURVEY 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

6. 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

7. 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

8. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org Experience in legal settings 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

9. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org Survey – our questions European Directive 2010/64/EU  Article 2 – Right to interpretation  Article 3 – Right to translation of essential documents  Article 4 – Costs of interpretation & translation  Article 5 – Quality of interpretation & translation  Article 6 – Training  Article 7 – Record-keeping 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

10. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org RIGHTS 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

11. 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

12. 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

13. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org Right to sign language interpretation State of the art 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

14. 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

15. 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

16. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org Right to sign language interpretation 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org NEW TECHNOLOGIES 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

21. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org PROFESSIONAL ISSUES 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

26. 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 contacted 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

27. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org Costs of SL interpretation Depending on the procedure itself:  Government  Police  Court 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org CONCLUSIONS 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

32. 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

33. 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 users 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp

34. BDU conference - 28 September 2012 www.efsli.org Marinella Salami: marinella.salami@efsli.org www.efsli.org 2012 TRAFUT workshop - Antwerp