Joining Voices!
Translators and interpreters have been increasingly subject to unjust persecution, prosecution, and imprisonment in countries across the world. To publicize and combat this critical state of affairs, Red T launched the Open Letter Project in 2012 with the support of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) and the International Federation of Translators (FIT). The project’s objective is to advocate on behalf of these embattled linguists by sending letters of appeal to the relevant authorities. In 2013, the effort was joined by the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI) and, in 2015, by Critical Link International (CLI) and the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI). Most recently, our core group expanded to include the Conférence Internationale Permanente d’Instituts Universitaires de Traducteurs et Interprètes (CIUTI), the world’s oldest international association of university institutes with translation and interpretation programs. Additionally, the following organizations have become permanent signatories: the European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (EFSLI), the European Legal Interpreters and Translators Association (EULITA), the European Network for Public Service Interpreting and Translation (ENPSIT), the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT-USA), and Global Voices Lingua. A number of other signatories participate on an ad hoc basis by supporting select appeals.
We encourage you to become part of our project by writing a letter of your own. Every voice matters!
June 2023
To: The President of the Swiss Confederation
Re: Even One Victim Is One Too Many
November 2022
To: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Re: With Data Absent, Impunity Abounds
August 2022
To: German Federal Ministers
Re: A Beacon of Light
July 2022
To: The Supreme Leader of Iran
Re: Criminalizing the Profession
May 2021
To: The Secretary General of NATO
Re: Resolute Action
April 2021
To: The U.S. Secretary of State
Re: Lives at Stake
November 2020
To: The Immigration Minister of Canada
Re: A Pathway to Protection
February 2020
To: The Prime Minister of Australia
Re: A Humanitarian Promise
July 2019
To: The Chancellor of the Republic of Germany
Re: A Plea for Safe Haven
May 2019
To: The UN Secretary-General
Re: A Vital POC Building Block
August 2017
To: The President of France
Re: Modern-day Harkis?
March 2017
To: The Supreme Leader of Iran
Re: No Death for Content
March 2017
To: The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Re: A Moral and Strategic Imperative
January 2017
To: The President of the United States
Re: Your Most Important Asset
October 2016
To: The President of Turkey
Re: Silencing Free Speech
August 2016
To: The Immigration Minister of Canada
Re: A Fast-track to Resettlement
May 2016
To: Members of the U.S. Congress
Re: Rescue the SIV Program
October 2015
To: The Prime Minister of Greece
Re: The Forgotten Five
September 2015
To: The President of Turkey
Re: Criminalizing Our Job
June 2015
To: The Holy See
Re: A Call to Action
September 2014
To: The Prime Minister of The Netherlands
Re: The Backbone of Your Mission
July 2014
To: The President of Poland
Re: Time Is of the Essence
September 2013
To: The Minister of Defense of Spain
Re: A Matter of Life and Death
August 2013
To: The President of France
Re: Arbitrary Selection Criteria
June 2013
To: The Chancellor of the Republic of Germany
Re: Red Tape and Rejections
June 2013
To: The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Re: A "Moral Obligation"
May 2013
To: The Prime Minister of Denmark
Re: Geography Does Not Equal Safety
April 2013
To: The Prime Minister of Sweden
Re: Where Law Meets Compassion
February 2013
To: The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
Re: Overly Broad “Terrorism Bars”
August 2012
To: The Supreme Leader of Iran
Re: Upholding Article 19 of the ICCPR
May 2012
To: The Supreme Leader of Iran
Re: Locking Up Freedom of Expression