AIIC's Code of Professional Ethics

Whereas the profession exerts considerable influence on others, both individuals and society, its code refers to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of December 1948. 

This Code of Professional Ethics, sets out the principles of professional ethics of members of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC). It lays down the standards of professionalism, confidentiality, integrity and reserve, which all members of the Association shall be bound to respect in their work as professional interpreters. 

Candidates and pre-candidates shall also undertake to adhere to the provisions of the Code of Professional Ethics. The Disciplinary and Disputes Committee, acting in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes, shall impose penalties for any breach of the rules of the profession as defined in the Code of Professional Ethics.

I. General Principles of Professional Ethics 

Article 1: Professionalism

Members of the Association shall not accept any assignment for which they are not qualified. Acceptance of an assignment shall imply a moral undertaking on the member’s part to work with all due professionalism. 

Article 2: Confidentiality

Members of the Association shall be bound by the strictest secrecy, which must be observed towards all persons and with regard to all information disclosed in the course of the practice of the profession at any gathering not open to the public.

Article 3: Integrity

Members of the Association shall refrain from deriving any personal gain whatsoever from confidential information they may have acquired in the exercise of their duties as conference interpreters. 

Article 4: Reserve

4.1 Members of the Association shall not perform any duties other than those of conference interpreter at conferences for which they have been recruited in that capacity. 

 

4.2 Members of the Association shall not accept any job or situation which might detract from the dignity of the profession. They shall refrain from any act which might bring the profession into disrepute.

 

4.3 They shall exercise professional judgement when posting and interacting on social media. 

 

Article 5: Continuing Professional Development

Members of the Association shall commit to pursuing continuing professional development . 

Article 6: Publicity

For any professional purposes, members of the Association may publicise the fact that they are conference interpreters and members of the Association, either as individuals or as part of any grouping or region to which they belong. 

 

Article 7: Collegiality

It shall be the duty of members of the Association to afford their colleagues moral assistance and collegiality. 

 

II. Conduct towards Clients

Article 8: Loyalty and Integrity 

The exercise of the profession shall be based on principles of independence, impartiality and responsibility. Members of the Association shall base their relationship with clients on the principles of loyalty and integrity. 

Article 8a: Acceptance of an Assignment

Members of the Association shall not accept more than one contract for the same period of time. 

Article 9: Reliability

Members of the Association shall be punctual (except in cases of force majeure) and courteous. 

Article 10: Fidelity of Interpretation

Interpreters shall strive to translate the message to be interpreted faithfully and precisely. They shall endeavour to render the message without embellishment, omission, or alteration.

Article 11: Errors in Interpretation 

The interpreter shall endeavour to point out and immediately rectify any error in interpretation, whether this is due to poor acoustics or misunderstanding. 

III. Conduct towards Colleagues 

Article 12: Equality among colleagues

Any member of the Association recruiting other conference interpreters, be they members of the Association or not, shall give the same undertaking to all. Members of the Association shall neither accept nor, a fortiori, offer for themselves or for other conference interpreters recruited through them, be they members of the Association or not, any working conditions contrary to those laid down in the Code of Professional Ethics or in the Professional Standards.

IV. Conduct towards the Association and towards the Profession in general 

Article 13: Respect for the profession

Members shall refrain from any utterance or action prejudicial to the interests of the Association or its members. 

Article 14: Disputes

14.1 Any complaint arising out of the conduct of any other member or any disagreement regarding any decision taken by the Association shall be pursued and settled within the Association itself. 

14.2 Any problem pertaining to the profession which arises between two or more members of the Association, including candidates and pre-candidates, may be referred to the Disciplinary and Disputes Committee for arbitration, except for disputes of a commercial nature. 

V. Professional Practices

Article 15: Ensuring the best quality interpretation 

With a view to ensuring the best quality interpretation, members of the Association shall endeavour to secure and adhere to the following conditions: 

15.1: Satisfactory conditions of sound, visibility and comfort

They shall require a direct view of the speaker and audience, using screens as necessary, as well as a clear view of any documentary or video materials shown during the event. Where distance interpreting is provided, every effort shall be made to ensure that audiovisual input to the interpreters complies with the relevant ISO standards. 

15.2: Avoidance of interpreting simultaneously alone 

Members of the Association shall not, when interpreting simultaneously in a booth, work either alone or without the availability of a colleague to relieve them should the need arise.

15.3: Avoidance of systematic relay

Members of the Association shall try to ensure that teams of conference interpreters are formed in such a way as to avoid the systematic use of relay. 

15.4: Avoidance of simultaneous interpreting without a booth 

Members of the Association shall not agree to undertake either simultaneous interpretation without a booth or suitable soundproof environment, nor whispered interpretation unless the circumstances are exceptional and the quality of interpretation work is not thereby impaired.

15.5: Preparation 

Members of the Association shall prepare thoroughly for each of their assignments and shall require that working documents and texts to be read out at the conference be sent to them in advance. They shall request a briefing session whenever appropriate. 

Article 16: Amendment Procedure

This Code of Professional Ethics may be modified by a decision of the Assembly taken with a two-thirds majority of votes cast and, if appropriate, after having sought a legal opinion on the proposals.

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Category: Basic Texts
Date Posted: August 16, 2023