Language justice

According to the Swedish Administrative Law, authorities must use interpreters and make the content of documents accessible if needed in order for individuals to exercise their rights. This applies to individuals who have a functional impairment that seriously limits their ability to see, hear or speak.

The preparatory work states that this regulation should facilitate the process for individuals with a functional impairment to participate in cases, to exercise their right to access and understand the content of the case, and to make themselves understood when contacting authorities.

(www.mfd.se)

Tahrir

Tahrir works for a more language fair society by creating inclusive multilingual spaces where everyone is given the opportunity to express their whole personality and to participate on equal terms.

Language justice is about people’s right’s to listen, express themselves and be understood in the language they are most comfortable with. It is about removing language barriers in order to release conversations and create cooperation. After all, how can we create a better society together if we can’t even talk to each other?

(www.tahrir.se)

All authorities are obliged to provide their clients with decisions and important information in an accessible way. This counts especially within the healthcare where everyone has the right to understand what kind of support is available, and which care they can or should receive.

When people think about multilingualism, they might think this is about translating or booking an interpreter, but for us it’s much more than that. It’s about the right to understand and make yourself understood, and about taking that right seriously.

How do we need to work?

It’s a matter of understanding how we in the best possible way can use an interpreter, allowing more time for an interpreted conversation so that everyone can understand each other, finding other ways to see and appreciate multilingual staff, understanding how we can use the language skills we have within our authority, organisation or network in the best possible way, or recruiting staff or volunteers to gain more multilingual skills.

But it’s also about analyzing issues of language and power.

There are several reasons why people with a foreign background have very little representation within the disability rights movement and in their boards, where language is a key factor. If we create multilingual ways to meet, we will be able to give voice to people with functional impairments who are not comfortable with the Swedish language.

The language justice organisation Tahrir develops solutions to these challenges. Through the Olika men lika project, we contribute towards improving the treatment of people with functional impairments who are not comfortable with the Swedish language!

Begreppsförklaring

The Swedish Administrative Law

A law that regulates how authorities must act in dealing with various cases.

Accessibility

Environments, objects, services and communications are easy for everyone to access or use.

Including/inclusion

Adapting to the environment, objects, services and communications so that it can include as many people as possible.

Multilingual

Several languages.

Multilingualism

Being able to use more than one language.

The disability rights movement

Umbrella term for organisations of and/or people with functional impairments.

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