ECA, diplomats champion protection of indigenous languages on International Translation Day

Addis Ababa, 30 September 2025 (ECA) - The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) joined the diplomatic community, multilingualism partners, and the UN family to celebrate International Translation Day 2025 under the theme, "Translation, an art worth protecting: moral and material rights for Indigenous languages."

Held in the historic Africa Hall, the event highlighted the essential role of translators and interpreters in bridging cultural divides, fostering dialogue, and improving diplomacy.

Kenya's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Petronila Were, emphasized the role of Swahili in uniting Africa and driving progress. She described it as a vital link to African culture and history, a tool for fostering harmony and peace, and a catalyst for positive change in fields like education, commerce, and technology. She called for support for the teachers, researchers, and artists who promote the language.

Ambassador Nezha Alaoui M'hammdi of the Kingdom of Morocco to Ethiopia described the day as "an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of joint action and solidarity to protect this fine human art."

She addressed the impact of technology on the profession, arguing that machines cannot replace human creativity and analytical skill. "Machine translation has shown shortcomings in conveying the beauty of text and spirit in great literary works; machines cannot formulate new terms that express new concepts; they lack creative ways of deriving and generating words," she said.

Mr. Zhang Wei, Deputy Head of Mission of China to the African Union and ECA, expressed deep appreciation for the UN's efforts in promoting multilingualism. He highlighted the role of translation in fostering global dialogue, noting that "Chinese has played an important role in ensuring the effective functioning of the UN."

Referencing the UN's 80th anniversary, he reaffirmed China's commitment to renew the founding mission of the UN so that it can play a bigger role in safeguarding world peace, promoting common development and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Speaking on behalf of the ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete, Melaku Desta, Acting Director of the Regional Integration and Trade Division, stressed the significance of translation in preserving cultural identity.

"This year's theme underscores the critical importance of recognizing translators' work and protecting Indigenous languages," he said. "Often threatened with extinction, these languages contain ancestral knowledge, unique worldviews, and deep spiritualism that we are duty-bound to preserve. Every translation that gives voice to such a language is an act of resistance, recognition, and dignity."

He also cautioned against overreliance on technology, stating, "In this age of advanced technologies, when it is claimed that everything can be translated with artificial intelligence, let us remember that indigenous languages are not data to be exploited: they are living treasures, and translating them is a sacred act."

Mr. Abdoulaye Salifou, representing Rita Bissonooth, Director of the UNESCO Office to the AU and ECA, emphasized the profound role of language professionals.

"Translation is more than the transfer of words from one language to another. It is an art and a science that ensures voices from every corner of the world are heard and understood," he said.

"In an era characterized by misinformation, the integrity of translated content becomes paramount. Translators are not mere conduits of information; they are custodians of meaning, ensuring that messages remain faithful to their original intent."

For her part, Néfertiti Tshibanda, Permanent Representative of the International Organization of La Francophonie, championed translation as a vital force for stability, understanding, and inclusion. She described it as "an act of trust" in dialogue and the future, noting that linguistic diversity is a driver of peace and sustainable development. While acknowledging digital tools, she said they must serve, not distort, the process and can never replace the essential human, ethical, and cultural dimension that translators provide.

The event featured documentaries and poetry readings authored by Ambassador Rodrigo Guzman Barros of Chile, as well as cultural performances by the Confucius Institute at Addis Ababa University. It was also attended by Ambassador Evgeny Terekin of the Russian Federation, who reaffirmed his country's commitment to promoting multilingualism.

In his closing remarks, Marcel Balboa, Chief of Publications and Conference Management at the ECA, acknowledged the often-unseen work of translators: "Today's event gives us the opportunity to shine a light on these women and men who work behind the scenes, in the privacy of their offices or behind the glass of their cubicles, to make dialogue between people possible."

About International Translation Day:

Established by the UN General Assembly on 24 May 2017, International Translation Day recognizes the vital role of language professionals in fostering peace, understanding, and development, and is celebrated on 30 September.

The date honours St. Jerome, patron saint of translators, who translated most of the Bible into Latin from Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. A priest of Illyrian origin, he mastered Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and passed away near Bethlehem on 30 September 420.

Issued by: Communications Section Economic Commission for Africa PO Box 3001 Addis Ababa Ethiopia Tel: +251 11 551 5826 E-mail: [email protected]