The Norwegian government has appointed a committee in order to write an official report (NOU) on the use of interpreters in the public sector. The committee will, among other things, investigate and make proposals for an efficient and quality-based system for the organization of interpreting services in the public sector. The report shall also touch upon training on the use of interpreters, use of technology, prognostics on the need of interpreters, etc. Normally, an official report leads to a white paper on the same issue. The committee is expected to deliver the report not later than a year after the nomination.
Leonardo Doria de Souza, who is Senior Adviser at the Strategy Office of the Section for Interpreting Services, Norwegian Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi), interprets this initiative as a result of IMDi’s successful work in Norway. IMDi is the national professional authority for interpreting in the public sector. The Directorate endeavours to improve the quality of interpreting in the public sector and is the licensing body for the government authorisation of interpreters. IMDi has been working towards establishing national standards in every area in the field of interpretation, from training, booking and use of interpreters, to standards for delivering and pricing of interpreting services. This report will hopefully strengthen IMDi’s proposals, and give them a higher status.
The Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, which is responsible for IMDi, is conducting the investigation. The Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services will be strongly involved in this work.
One of the points in the investigation mandate is that the committee will look at other countries in order to compare different models/solutions. It will therefore be looking at European practices and stakeholders on the European continent.
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