Translating and Interpreting the Letter of Rights

Abstract

This article focuses on the implementation of Directive 2012/13 on the Right to Information with reference to foreigners arrested in the Member State of the EU. In particular, the Author analyses whether foreigners provided with a Letter of Rights receive the same information despite their handicap of not understanding the language. Special attention is given to how the Netherlands and Poland deal with the Letter of Rights for foreigners. The picture that emerges concerning foreigners is that providing them with a Letter of Rights in their language is seriously handicapped in almost all aspects: the timing (availability), the linguistic quality, the accessibility and simplicity. This situation creates severe risks concerning the right to a fair trial for foreigners. They may not invoke rights because they do not know them. They may not come to their own trial because they did not understand.

Keywords

• Directive 2012/13
• Letter of Rights
• defendant’s right to fair trial
• translation