Deontological code

The present deontological code establishes the approval of the members of the association ATAJ as a complement to the provisions of law 50.00 regulating the profession of the translator accredited to the courts, in addition to the statutes of the Association approved by the minister of justice.

The translator accredited to the courts is held to :

• Provide an official translation of documents requiring an official certification within the certified (linguistic) combination.
• Ensure an indisputable quality translation within the rules of the profession.
• Confine to the professional qualifications which are granted to him by law.

The translator accredited to the courts is committed to :

• Not accept a work exceeding his qualifications.
• Personally assume the responsibility of works having his signature and seal.
• Translate the entire documents. In case the client requests a partial or analytical translation, the translator is bound to clearly mention it in his translation.
• Classify and keep copies of works carried out during a five years period.

The translator accredited to the courts is held to professional secrecy and is committed to:

• Ensure the confidentiality of personnel information of his clients.
• Fully absorb in the good fulfilment of translations he carries out.
• Provide his clients, before accepting the works, with all information related to the fulfilment of the translation, notably, the price and time limits. In case of failure to respect the time limits of delivery, on grounds of superior force, he must inform the client thereof as soon as possible in order to reach a solution suitable for the two parts.

If the client is a public establishment, or a private company, prices and time limits must be subject to an estimate duly specified by the client, or to an order form; time limits starts from the receipt of these works.

The translator accredited to the courts reserves the right to request an advance on the total price (of the works) before starting the translation.

The translator accredited to the courts must not in any case translate a document on the basis of his personal interpretations; his role is restricted to the reproduction of the content of the source text with full faithfulness and accuracy.

The translator accredited to the courts is refrained from accepting a translation first done by one of his colleagues without first informing him.

Conflicts which may arise between the translators accredited to the courts must be imperatively submitted to the National Office of ATAJ which ensures finding an amicable solution.

The National Office must have a sound knowledge of the circumstances leading to conflicts between the sworn translators as well as the position of each one of the parties before that any resort to justice is made.

Respect of confidentiality and discretion remains at the heart of the preoccupations of the translator accredited to the courts.

The sworn translator must avoid any discussion in public related to an affair which is entrusted to him.

Publicity strategies adopted by the translators accredited to the courts must not in any case undermine dignity, honour or good exercise of the profession.