“Facing the World’s New Challenges: The Role of Translators and Interpreters in Providing Integrated Efficient and Sustainable Solutions”

Professor Lee-Jahnke [Honorary President, CIUTI]
President Beer [President, Conseil d’État, Canton of Geneva]
Vice-Rector Flückiger [University of Geneva]
Professor Peeters [President, CIUTI]
Excellencies, Distinguished Participants
Ladies and Gentlemen
Dear Colleagues:

On behalf of UNOG, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all of you. I appreciate the opportunity to continue our good tradition of coming together, to further enhance the close links between the Forum and the United Nations Office at Geneva. Indeed, as a multilingual and international hub, Geneva is uniquely positioned to promote multilateral dialogue and understanding.

One cannot emphasize enough that languages, with their implications for identity, communication, social integration, and education and development, are of strategic importance for global governance, peace and stability around the world. And translators and interpreters serve as the linchpin for advancing this vital endeavour by facilitating the multilateral process. Without you, interpreters and translators, there would be no international conferences, meetings and negotiations.

As a former translator and interpreter, I am particularly supportive of the work of those qualified staff members who provide us their service. Taking this opportunity, I wish to express my appreciation to you all for your hard and dedicated work.

The academic and research institutions here in Geneva provide an important platform to address training and policy issues. The University of Geneva, a close and appreciated partner, has been at the forefront of those efforts. Let me also acknowledge the valuable support of the State Council of Geneva. It is yet another demonstration of our Host Country’s strong involvement across all areas of our work, for which we are grateful.

The importance of multilingualism for the United Nations, where some 160 languages are spoken by staff members globally, cannot be emphasized enough. The recent report of the UN Secretary-General on Multilingualism reminds us that “efforts to promote multilingualism are vital for fostering diversity and plurality within the United Nations. The [UN] Secretariat continues to make every effort to make content available in all six official languages in a timely manner while ensuring quality interpretation and translation”.

Here at UNOG, I have nominated a Coordinator for Multilingualism to ensure that our local efforts to advance the multilingual agenda are not just protected, but also promoted. Our governance systems are based on freedom of expression, which includes the right for people to express themselves in the language of their choice. All of us can – and must –promote this important right.

This Forum is taking place at a time of very important and tumultuous events around the world. We need dialogue and talks that are impossible, as I’ve said, without your contribution. You play a direct role in promoting intercultural dialogue, but also indirectly by strengthening cooperation, building inclusive knowledge societies and preserving cultural heritage.

It is therefore essential that translators and interpreters receive innovative substantive and technical training. This training should reflect new ways of thinking as well as technological developments, as many times the quality of international public discourse is contingent upon their role. The CIUTI Forum and the United Nations, therefore, have a shared interest in promoting first-rate language training, since qualified linguists are necessary to ensure the provision of high-quality conference services to UN Member States. The creation of a network between the United Nations and 21 training institutions ensures dynamic collaboration on a continuous basis, training language professionals in all six UN official languages.

Over the years, the annual CIUTI Forum has provided language professionals and their managers with the opportunity to meet with major actors in this important field, while promoting dialogue and ties between training institutions and UN practitioners. It is evident that this Forum has made significant strides in bridging the gap between the supply of and demand for language professionals.

In addition, it is through the Forum that academic institutions have become more aware of issues encountered by international organizations in the field of translation and interpretation, and have helped the CIUTI member institutions to better prepare students to meet current challenges in international settings.

In particular, language professionals will need to adapt to the fast-paced development in the fields of natural sciences and humanities. They will have to leave the comfort zone of past training and equip themselves with knowledge and terminology - in different languages - of the latest advancements in these areas.
In doing so, they will also have to strive to become more technologically alert and adept – a necessity to facilitate dialogue in today’s international environment.

I wish you all success in your exchanges during this Forum.

Thank you very much.