The following general ethical guidelines provide an overview of the main ethical principles for professional interpreters:

INTERPRETERS are committed to absolute secrecy on information of any kind disclosed to them during their work. They refrain from using confidential information revealed to them for their personal benefit.

INTERPRETERS thoroughly prepare for their assignments, not just by studying the documents provided by the clients in the run-up to a specific conference, but also through daily extensive research in high-quality print, audio-visual, and electronic media to guarantee a broad knowledge base from which to quickly get into the details of any specific discipline.

INTERPRETERS do not accept jobs for which they are not qualified. Accepting an assignment commits the interpreter to comply with the respective professional principles.

INTERPRETERS do not accept assignments which might harm the profession’s dignity and refrain from any activities to that effect.

INTERPRETERS afford their colleagues moral assistance and collegiality.