Dr. Salome Mbugua:

Translation has been quite problematic for some people. It is provided, for example, by Women's Aid and others who provide services. Sometimes it can go very wrong. I will give the example of some cases that we have had. For example, a woman might have experienced gender-specific harm and be brought a translator who is a young man. It does not work and it is not culturally appropriate. It is very difficult when that happens. We have also had issues where children are translating for their parents and there are issues of domestic violence. This is unacceptable. There have been examples of where children have to translate in hospitals because a parent cannot speak the language. There have been some good situations. For example, there was training in 2018 in order that people could understand the consequences of female genital mutilation. In fact, the family was able to identify someone who wanted to translate.

When people go for their international protection hearings, some people translate different things from what is being said. It is important that it is made clear that these have to be people who are competent enough to translate properly, particularly in view of the risk to the life of another person. We have had very good stories and very bad ones. Sometimes they are mostly bad. We need proper translators to be able to translate for various groups and different people with different needs. There are organisations and groups that can support this process. It is important that the right people do so.