Congratulations to Caio Gomes, a Master’s in Translation and Interpreting student, for being one of the two recipients receiving the inaugural Human Rights and Language Access Scholarship. Recently, the MS in Translation and Interpreting program invited Caio to share what advocacy and awareness mean to him with Assistant Director of Programs, Darius Phelps.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a human rights advocate in the field of Translation and Interpreting?
Being a human rights advocate in the field of Translation and Interpreting means bridging divides and facilitating understanding, particularly in situations where language can be both a barrier and a tool of empowerment. In my experience working with the NGO SafePlace International, where I supported LGBT refugees from various African countries, I witnessed firsthand how vital clear communication is in human rights work. The people we worked with came from diverse linguistic backgrounds, and not all of them had English as a second language. This highlighted the crucial need for effective interpretation, especially within international NGOs. Each refugee carried unique stories and traumas that often couldn’t be fully expressed in a language they were not fluent in. This experience made it clear that while translation and interpreting might seem secondary to direct humanitarian aid, they are foundational. Without accurate interpretation, crucial information gets lost, mistranslations can lead to miscommunication, and, ultimately, the very people we aim to help can be left in more vulnerable situations.
Interpreting for human rights advocacy is not just about conveying words; it's about preserving the dignity and integrity of the voices being represented. In a world where marginalized groups often face layers of discrimination—including language barriers—the role of an interpreter extends beyond mere translation. It involves understanding cultural contexts, grasping the nuances of sensitive conversations, and serving as a neutral yet empathetic conduit. The ability to navigate these complexities is crucial, especially when supporting vulnerable populations like LGBT refugees, who may already have limited trust in institutions or fear persecution.
Q: What drives your commitment to the field of Translation & Interpreting?
During my work with SafePlace International, I realized that effective communication is key not only to ensuring that the needs of the refugees are accurately understood but also to empowering them to advocate for themselves. I encountered situations where a lack of proper interpretation could have led to misdiagnoses in medical consultations or even miscommunication in legal settings. It became clear that the human rights issues these individuals faced were compounded by linguistic barriers, which in turn amplified their struggles. This realization drives my commitment to becoming a more effective human rights advocate through translation and interpreting. I envision working with NGOs that focus on asylum seekers, refugees, and other marginalized communities to break down these linguistic barriers. My goal is to ensure that language is never an obstacle in accessing essential services, expressing needs, or defending human rights. I am particularly drawn to organizations that operate on an international scale, where the role of an interpreter becomes even more critical in navigating cultural and linguistic differences.
In essence, being a human rights advocate in the field of Translation and Interpreting is about more than just converting words from one language to another. It is about upholding the principles of justice and equality through clear and compassionate communication, ensuring that no one is left unheard or misunderstood. My past work with SafePlace International has solidified this understanding, reinforcing my belief that interpretation is a crucial component of effective human rights advocacy, particularly in our increasingly interconnected world.
Q: Awareness is one of the main ways to amplify a needed cause. How will you use your studies at the NYU School of Professional Studies to raise awareness around language access and language justice for asylum seekers?
Raising awareness around language access and language justice for asylum seekers is essential for creating more inclusive, effective, and compassionate support systems. My studies at NYU SPS, particularly the Translation for Intergovernmental Organizations course, have equipped me with both the knowledge and the practical skills to advocate for these issues in meaningful ways. This course offered an in-depth understanding of translation and interpreting within large-scale intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations and international financial institutions, where multilingualism is a cornerstone of communication. But more importantly, it introduced the role that translators and interpreters play in ensuring equitable access to services for marginalized communities, including asylum seekers. Through this course, I gained insight into how intergovernmental organizations operate and the critical functions of translators, interpreters, and editors within them. This understanding is vital when discussing language access and justice, as it reveals the power dynamics inherent in multilingual communication. Language is not just a tool for conveying information; it is a medium through which authority, rights, and identities are negotiated. Asylum seekers often face significant barriers because their linguistic needs are not prioritized, leading to misunderstandings, misdiagnoses, or even legal misrepresentations. By raising awareness of these issues, we can push for language justice to be at the forefront of human rights discussions.
In terms of advocacy, I plan my approach to be multifaceted. Firstly, I plan to leverage the skills and knowledge I’ve acquired to engage in collaborative projects with NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) that focus on asylum seekers. The course’s emphasis on teamwork and real-world documents gave me hands-on experience in producing high-quality translations under conditions that mimic those in professional settings. Applying this experience in advocacy work allows me to raise awareness not only by discussing language access but by actively demonstrating how professional translation and interpretation can make tangible differences in the lives of asylum seekers.
Additionally, this upcoming fall semester, I will be taking the Translation for Human Rights course, which I hope will further equip me to advocate in this space. This course will deepen my understanding of how translation intersects with human rights and provide me with specialized skills that I can apply to my work with asylum-seeker-facing NGOs and CBOs. I am eager to build on what I’ve learned and take my advocacy to the next level. Secondly, I intend to use the frameworks I learned in these courses to educate and engage others on this topic. This includes organizing workshops and seminars for students and professionals within the Translation and Interpreting field, focusing on the unique needs of asylum seekers.
Highlighting case studies from intergovernmental organizations and NGOs will underscore the importance of specialized training and sensitivity in this area. I believe that awareness must extend beyond the theoretical; it needs to engage those who might be on the frontlines of this work, from interpreters in legal settings to project editors handling critical reports. Finally, my studies at NYU SPS have reinforced the importance of working across sectors—governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental. Each has its own role in promoting language access, and raising awareness will require a unified voice advocating for language justice. By connecting my academic knowledge with real-world applications, I hope to influence how these institutions view the language needs of asylum seekers, ensuring that this vulnerable population is supported in a way that respects their linguistic and cultural identities.
On behalf of the NYU SPS Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts, we are extremely proud of all that Caio has accomplished and look forward to what he achieves next.