If it seems that things have been quiet of late and you haven’t heard much from FIT Council, it’s because we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes preparing for an exciting FIT Congress this September. By the time you read this, registration will be open – check the Congress website for all the details. We’re looking forward to filling the WIPO conference hall with knowledge, connection, and positive energy that will elevate the profession, and we hope to see you there.
This issue of Translatio captures some of the positive energy circulating within our community. You’ll find inspiring member-led initiatives from associations such as the Colegio de Traductores e Intérpretes de Chile (COTICH), the Colegio de Traductores Públicos del Uruguay (CTPU), and the Association of Interpreters and Translators (AIT), which continue to support their members, especially young professionals, in the critical first five years of their careers. We’re also showcasing innovative training efforts, such as those supported by the Association of Welsh Translators and Interpreters (CCC).
In addition to organising the Congress, FIT Council has been focused on forward planning and reviewing our governance and operational structures. Our goal is to ensure FIT remains adaptable and relevant in the face of rapid social, cultural, and technological change. We’ll be sending out a survey to our member associations later in the year to collect feedback, helping us shape positive change and adapt to the future.
Our AI Working Group, created to provide associations with a platform to collectively explore the challenges and impacts of artificial intelligence’s expansion, recently met to discuss ongoing collaboration. The ethics team has developed a position paper on AI Interpreting, and during the meeting, it agreed that it would work on a broader paper on the ethical use of AI and its effects. The working group’s aim is to create additional resources that members can use to advocate for the profession in the age of AI and promote its ethical application.
I’m also pleased to announce the theme for International Translation Day (ITD) 2025, which draws inspiration from the growing concerns over the erosion of trust due to AI, the UN’s designation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust, and the theme for the XXIII FIT World Congress. This year’s ITD theme is:
Translation: shaping a future you can trust
You can read more about it in this issue. Our annual ITD webinar will take place on Friday, 26 September, which, by coincidence, is also the European Day of Languages. With so much to celebrate, we hope you’ll join us!
I hope you enjoy this issue of Translatio, and I’d like to take a moment to express my gratitude to its editorial team and translators for their dedication in reliably bringing you an issue brimming with the latest community news every quarter. Don’t forget to share your own news with us for the next issue.
Happy Reading!
Alison Rodriguez, president@fit-ift.org