Traduciendo culturas en el Perú: Los derechos humanos lingüísticos en la práctica

This article discusses new initiatives on the part of the Peruvian government actively to promote the principle of linguistic human rights (May 2010, 2012), as a means to improve relations with Peru’s indigenous peoples. New legislation in response to a serious conflict in northern Peru in 2009, has allowed for the setting up of a government sponsored training programme for indigenous people, or people with indigenous language background, as translators and interpreters between Spanish and the indigenous tongues. Based on primary research, the article details the achievements and challenges of the courses so far, from the perspectives of the different actors involved. Use of interpreting and translation in public services and prior consultation contexts is growing as a result, and opening up the exercise of linguistic human rights in Peru with potential for impact across society at large.