Giving children a voice - A very special endeavour for interpreters

This paper explores interpreting for children as a crucial yet under-researched field, highlighting its importance in safeguarding the rights of minors, especially in migration contexts. Drawing on twelve years of research in Italy, the authors discuss interpreter-mediated communication with children from both adult and child perspectives. Findings reveal differing role perceptions among professionals, interpreters’ active intercultural mediation, and children’s strong preference for clarity, empathy, and autonomy. Despite their resilience, many minors lack adequate language assistance, especially outside institutional settings. The findings call for specialized interprofessional training to ensure equitable access to communication and protection for all children in their best interest.