ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the international legal provisions relating to translation and the assumptions which underpin them, and provides a complete account of how international law affects the translation policies of states. A range of international legal provisions protect the rights of linguistic minorities, with implications for the translation policies of states. Different areas of international law explicitly and implicitly require the use of translation in order to protect individuals' rights to fairness and equality. The chapter argues that international law supports the development of translation policies to integrate linguistic minorities, in other ways international law provides a framework for marginalising the groups for policies of "translation as marginalisation". Several minority rights instruments contain provisions that impose obligations on states to provide translation in light of the significance of language for minority identity and culture. The chapter considers the provisions of international law that addresses the issue of inclusion and participation directly, international law on the right to democratic participation.
