Cardinal competences of the colombian sign language interpreter in the framework of the criminal process

Abstract

Throughout history, deaf people have been subject to structural discrimination, mainly due to the communication differences they present in comparison to hearing people. In this context, sign language interpreting emerged as a spontaneous social practice, developed by families, schools and community circles seeking to establish communication channels with the deaf culture. This practice, initially informal, was consolidated as a tool for inclusion, although its regulation by the public authorities has been fragmentary and scarce. In the criminal prosecution process, regulatory gaps in the area of interpretation represent concrete risks for the guarantee of due process, particularly when the defendant is a deaf person. The absence of specialized protocols, quality standards and technical verification mechanisms compromises the communicative accessibility of this population. Against this backdrop, this article describes the cardinal competencies that make up the professional profile of the Interpreter of Colombian Sign Language - Spanish, whose intervention in jurisdictional proceedings is an essential component to ensure equitable, accessible and culturally relevant procedural conditions.