New interpretation law must be applied by
October 2013
EU Member States have 2 months to implement a new law guaranteeing
suspects the right to translation and interpretation. From October 2013,
suspects who do not speak the language of the proceedings will be guaranteed
the right to free interpretation during police proceedings, court
hearings, extradition procedures and, in some cases, to help them communicate
with their lawyers. Suspects also have the right to the translation of
documents essential for them to prepare their defence. A summary of the law is
available here.
Although translation and interpretation are an essential part of fair
criminal proceedings, Fair Trials International helps hundreds of people each
year who are denied this basic right, and who, as a result, find it impossible
to build an effective defence. Our client Garry Mann
reported that he received extremely poor interpretation during an interrogation
in Portugal, meaning he was unable to understand or participate in any of the
proceedings. Problems can also arise much later in the case – such as with
Gerry Gallant, a Dutch national arrested in Italy, who had spent six months in
prison before he finally received a translated version of his official
sentence.
Read more here: http://www.fairtrials.net/press/new-interpretation-law-must-be-applied-by-october-2013/
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