I. Purpose and Scope
Article 1
a. This Code of Professional
Ethics (hereinafter called the "Code") lays down the
standards of integrity, professionalism and
confidentiality which all interpreters of Elite
shall be bound to respect in their work as
conference interpreters.
b. Candidates shall also
undertake to adhere to the provisions of this Code.
c. The Management, acting in
accordance with the Regulation on Disciplinary
Procedure, shall impose penalties for any breach of
the rules of the profession as defined in this Code.
II. Code of Honour
Article 2
a. Interpreters of Elite 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.
b. Interpreters 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 3
a. Interpreters of Elite 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.
b. Any member of Elite recruiting
other conference interpreters, be they interpreters
of Elite or not, shall give the same undertaking.
c. Interpreters of Elite shall
not accept more than one assignment for the same
period of time.
Article 4
a. Interpreters of Elite shall
not accept any job or situation which might detract
from the dignity of the profession.
b. They shall refrain from any
act which might bring the profession into disrepute.
Article 5
For any professional purpose,
interpreters may publicise the fact that they are
conference interpreters and interpreters of Elite,
either as individuals or as part of any grouping or
region to which they belong.
Article 6
a. It shall be the duty of
interpreters of Elite to afford their colleagues
moral assistance and collegiality.
b. Interpreters shall refrain
from any utterance or action prejudicial to the
interests of Elite or its interpreters. Any
complaint arising out of the conduct of any other
member or any disagreement regarding any decision
taken by Elite shall be pursued and settled within
Elite itself.
c. Any problem pertaining to the
profession which arises between two or more
interpreters of Elite, including candidates, may be
referred to the Management for arbitration, except
for disputes of a commercial nature.
III. Working Conditions
Article 7
With a view to ensuring the best
quality interpretation, interpreters of Elite:
a. shall endeavour always to
secure satisfactory conditions of sound, visibility
and comfort, having particular regard to the
Professional Standards as adopted by Elite as well
as any technical standards drawn up or approved by
it;
b. shall not, as a general rule,
when interpreting simultaneously in a booth, work
either alone or without the availability of a
colleague to relieve them should the need arise;
c. shall try to ensure that teams
of conference interpreters are formed in such a way
as to avoid the systematic use of relay;
d. shall not agree to undertake
either simultaneous interpretation without a booth
or whispered interpretation unless the circumstances
are exceptional and the quality of interpretation
work is not thereby impaired;
e. shall require a direct view of
the speaker and the conference room. They will thus
refuse to accept the use of television monitors
instead of this direct view, except in the case of
videoconferences;
f. shall require that working
documents and texts to be read out at the conference
be sent to them in advance;
g. shall request a briefing
session whenever appropriate;
h. shall not perform any other
duties except that of conference interpreter at
conferences for which they have been taken on as
interpreters.
Article 8
Interpreters of Elite shall
neither accept nor, a fortiori, offer for themselves
or for other conference interpreters recruited
through them, be they interpreters of Elite or not,
any working conditions contrary to those laid down
in this Code or in the Professional Standards.
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