ICANN has unveiled its new multi language approach for organisation; the translation programme (is in draft form) to interact with non-English speakers has been put out for public and community comment today. The period of public comment will be available until the 14th March. The programme has two aims firstly to educate people about ICANN as an organisation covering its history, processes, component parts and its evolution. Secondly it aims to allow people to freely and effectively participate in the ongoing decision making process and policy work that the organisation is involved in. The main mission of the programme is to provide those who are not fluent English speakers with an equal level of access to effectively participate in the organisation.

The 27 page report which was compiled by an independent expert and localisation specialist Bert Esselink, was overseen by an ex head of translation at the United Nations Omar Zahr. This was also with consultancy with the Internet community and ICANN staff making a series of recommendations.

They include that:

• ICANN divide its documents into four types: Outreach information (including factsheets, FAQs, glossaries, brochures); Strategic documents (including the Strategic Plan, Operating Plan, Budget, Annual Report); Policy documents (including issue papers, preliminary and final reports, SSAC papers, IDN status reports); and Other documents (including announcement, forms, contracts, and web pages).

• Outreach information is translated into 10 languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian; Strategic information is translated into five languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish and Russian; Policy documents to be translated as a default into five languages with variation depending on circumstances, and Other documents translated into languages defined by translation guidelines and in consultation with the relevant body in each case.

• The ICANN community is integrated into the translation programme to act as expert reviewers

• A dedicated translation coordinator is hired to help create standardized processes for translation

• The translation service is outsourced to a third-party/parties

• Interpretation during ICANN meetings is provided in the national language of the country where the meeting is organized, as well as the most relevant languages for the region.

The programme will be redrafted after community input if required and put into a final report stage. The purpose of this phase is to send the final report to a board in Paris for review/approval in June. The five languages serve as the most effective balance of resources for the ICANN to allow participation in its processes. Ten languages allow for 85 percent of the world to effectively keep in contact with ICANN and its communications

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