Part of TWB's core mission is to raise awareness of the critical role of translation in humanitarian assistance and development projects through advocacy. Our goal is to ensure that aid efforts around the world prioritize providing information to communities, in the right languages. We do this via a variety of channels:
Actively participate in a global platform for aid workers that focuses on communicating with the developing world and other communities in need.
Advocate relevant organizations to ensure that language and content is high on the agenda at meetings and conferences.
Work with partners to develop tools to make information easily available.
Write educational blogs, press releases, and articles that demonstrate the importance of effective communication.
Language and the Global Compacts for Refugees and Migrants
The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants is an important reaffirmation by Heads of State and Government and High Representatives of their intention “to fully protect the human rights of all refugees and migrants, regardless of status”. A key outcome of the Declaration is the creation of two new Global Compacts, one on refugees and one on migrants. These Global Compacts, to be agreed by government representatives at the United Nations in 2018, will articulate common commitments to save lives and protect rights of refugees and migrants, and share responsibility on a global scale. As a follow up to the New York Declaration, negotiations and consultations have started to move towards a comprehensive framework to address large movements of refugees and migrants. TWB is actively participating to ensure that migrants and refugees are able to realize their right to seek, receive and impart information, in a language they understand and in formats they can access. Read TWB's recommendations on how the Global Compacts can address barriers to information access.
Visit our Resources page to browse more of our research about why language is so important in humanitarian and development efforts.