The Right to Interpretation and Translation as a Procedural Safeguard of the Right to a Fair Trial in the Jurisprudence of the ECtHR and the CJEU

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the right to a fair trial with a particular focus on the right to interpretation and translation as a fundamental procedural safeguard. It examines the multi-layered protection of this right at the international, supranational, and national levels, highlighting the key legal frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Special attention is given to the procedural guarantees enshrined in Article 6(3)(e) ECHR and Directive 2010/64/EU, and to the obligations of public authorities and courts to ensure timely and effective interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings. The study explores the practical challenges in securing these rights, particularly in the context of pre-trial detention and the execution of custodial sentences in the Slovak Republic. It addresses the legal distinction between formal procedural rights and the linguistic rights of foreign nationals in detention settings, and examines the role of ombudsman institutions in monitoring compliance.

The article also reflects de lege ferenda on possible legislative and practical measures, such as the use of English as an auxiliary language upon admission to detention and the deployment of electronic translation tools, aimed at improving the protection of fair trial rights in an increasingly multilingual and diverse society. The research applies a combination of doctrinal legal analysis, comparative method, and case-law study, complemented by analytical and synthetic approaches to evaluate existing legal frameworks, identify shortcomings in practice, and formulate recommendations for reform.