FIT Council is pleased to share this year’s theme for International Translation Day (ITD):
Translation, an art worth protecting.
Inspired by issues surrounding copyright, this year’s theme embraces the recognition of translations as original creative works in their own right, owed the benefit of copyright protection under the Berne Convention. As the creators of derivative works, translators have fought to protect their rights to be credited for their work, control any changes to that work, and receive appropriate remuneration. Protecting these simple things will ensure a sustainable future for translation professionals and the historic art of translation itself.
Copyright-related issues extend far into all areas of the profession, including the use of translations in the cultural sector, literary translation, publishing, and legal translation. With the development of AI and the expansion of the digital sphere, the implications of copyright for translators, interpreters, and terminologists have increased exponentially. Attribution of translation in the digital sphere is more and more crucial; in addition to allowing translators to receive recognition for their efforts, it clearly signals the origin of a text, identifying it as human-, rather than AI-generated, content.
ITD has been an important date on the FIT calendar for over 35 years, with FIT Council creating an annual theme as the basis for the celebrations. Since 2017, the United Nations has recognised 30 September as International Translation Day and celebrated it across the entire UN global network. It honours the contribution of professional translators, interpreters, and terminologists in connecting nations and fostering peace and global development, and it emphasises translation’s important political and cultural role in multilateralism and multilingualism.
This year, ITD calls for us to protect translation as an art, protect copyright and related rights, and protect our livelihoods, thereby ensuring the future and sustainability of our profession. So, let’s celebrate our creativity, longevity, and unity by marking International Translation Day 2024 on 30 September. Look out for this year’s ITD poster, which will be available to all who wish to join us in celebrating translation as an art worth protecting.
We are also pleased to announce that the 2025 World Congress will be held at WIPO headquarters in Geneva from 4–6 September. Save the date! More details coming soon.
FIT Council
