United Nations Recognizes International Translation Day

On May 24, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring September 30 to be International Translation Day, thanks to the longstanding work of the International Federation of Translators and its member associations, including ATA.

This historic resolution also recognized the role that professional translators, interpreters, and terminologists play in connecting nations and fostering peace, understanding, and development.

Andrei Dapkiunas (Belarus), who presented the resolution, said that its meaning and importance is much broader and deeper than simply demonstrating respect for a profession. It is about people, the invisible workers and unsung heroes of the linguistic professions.

International Translation Day was first celebrated in 1953. The UN’s official recognition of September 30 and the European Commission’s European Day of Languages on September 26 are major milestones in the campaign to raise awareness of language professionals around the world.

The 2017 theme for International Translation Day is Translation and Diversity.