THE CHARTER OF TRANSLATORS FOR PEACE
The promoters of the association Translators for Peace (hereinafter:
the Association) have agreed on the following inspirational principles and objectives
of the Association. This text has been read and approved by the signatories
and will be distributed to anyone who would like to join the Association, provided
that they read and approve the text before their formal adherence.
1. The Constitution of the Association
1.1The Association is a free association of translators from all
countries and of all nationalities.
1.2 The Association
was established by the undersigned promoters in order to publish, as far as
possible in every language and by whatever channel, every message against: · war
in general; and · in particular, against the use of war as a means of resolving
international disputes.
1.3 The Association was
established in the historical context of the war launched by the countries
belonging to the Nato alliance against Serbia, in an effort to respond to the
lack and distortion of information which the promoters to be the result of the
propagandistic wall present in both the countries of the Western Alliance and
Serbia.
2. Our Voluntary Commitment
2.1
The promoters and the associate members of the Association undertake to dedicate
a portion of their time to translate and publish any useful contribution to
tackle and broaden the debate on war; in particular, any information on all that
the implications of modern war technologies in terms of costs to human lives,
the environment, democracy and human rights.
2.2 Our
voluntary commitment intends to move from the present conflict in the Balkans to
extend to other conflicts on a global level, with a single fundamental
commitment: to maximise communication and dialogue between people and
ethnicities, offering our professional competencies and our human
commitment.
2.3 The promoters intend to maintain their
commitment even when the mass media coverage has stopped and conflicts in every
part of the world are forgotten.
2.4 In particular,
with reference to the present conflict, the promoters will continue to
contribute to translating all types of material on the sufferings of Albanian
refugees and of Serbian nationals even when attention given to the conflict by
the mass media has decreased, should, as is hoped, a rapid solution to the
conflict is reached. With this in mind, attention will be principally focused on
documents, published by reliable sources, dedicated to: · responsibility in
relation to human rights violations; and · to crimes against humanity committed
by the parties in issue during this war and in other conflicts on a global
level.
3. Our professional commitment
3.1 The translators belonging to the initiative undertake to complete
their voluntary work with the utmost professionalism, respecting the information
contained in the original text and translating it as accurately and as closely
as possible to the original text.
4. The choice of texts to be translated
4.1 Each translator belonging to the initiative will have complete
discretion in choosing texts to be translated.
4.2 The
texts may come from newspapers or magazines, from non-governmental
organisations, association etc.
4.3 Priority will be
given to texts which are not closely linked to current affairs and which can
contribute to expand the debate on the war and its consequences and to inform
public opinion. In this way, the public may make a conscious and informed
decision against the use of war in all parts of the world and will be in favour
of the development of all diplomatic and democratic means for dispute
resolution, and in particular the recourse to international organisations and
the acceptance of the principles of legality
4.4 Texts
which contain information which has not been attributed to precise sources will
not be translated
4.5 Preference will be given to
documents published by organisations recognised for their reliability and for
their commitment to further peace and dialogue between races.
5. The Main Fields of work
5.1
The promoters identify the following as the principal fields of work to which
they will dedicate their commitment to translation and the publication of their
work: -Democracy and Human rights, -Weapons, -International Organisations,
-Environment, -Associations and Ong.
5.2 Particular
attention will be focused on the present and future role of International
Organisations for the peaceful resolution of international conflicts; in
particular, to the role of a future Court on Crimes against Humanity, that the
Association hopes will be established and operating in the near future.
6. Means of Publishing the Translated Texts
6.1 The Association will set up a web site which will present
the texts translated by its promoters and members. The web site will be
published as widely as possible to the media; the latter may use the website
freely and free of charge the translated texts provided that they undertake to
cite: 1.the source of the translation; and 2,the Association Translators for
Peace; and 3.the translator who completed the translation.
6.2 The Association considers that information against war should reach
as many people as possible; to this end the Association will try to encourage,
in addition to normal channels such as Internet and the press, every occasion to
publish informative pieces of work (radio, television, etc)
7. Problems of Copyright
7.1
Texts which are not protected by copyright will be available on the pages of the
web site of the Translators of Peace and will be available to be read by anyone
who accesses the page.
7.2 Texts protected by copyright
will be presented with a brief description of the source and of contents and the
means available to the organs of information which they have provided to obtain
the right of the copyright from the author and or the newspaper (or the other
means) which had published the original text.
The promoters of the Association
Laura Cancellieri, Martina Ciabatti, Claudine Cocozza, Cristina di Gaetano, Giovanni Iacovoni, Fulvio Giglio, Barbara Lassandro, Angelo Magliocco, Claudio Maioli, Laura Martinelli, Valeria Poli, Alfredo Rocca, Andrea Spila, Stefano Spila, Cecilia Tavanti.