Writers and Literary Translators’ International Congress ( WALTIC) held in Swedish Capital, Stockholm, from June 29 to July 2, 2008. The Swedish Writers’ Union (SFF) was the organizer of the event. As the union put it WALTIC’s main focus were on “three urgent global issues: Literacy, Intercultural Dialogue and Digitalization”.
“WALTIC is a global arena for collaboration, creating opinion and achieving change... The theme “Intercultural Dialogues” is the most comprehensive of the three themes of the congress; therefore we will dedicate several seminars and round table discussions to literature dealing with movement in the world”, the WALTIC organizers said before the beginning of the congress.
“WALTIC is a global arena for collaboration, creating opinion and achieving change... The theme “Intercultural Dialogues” is the most comprehensive of the three themes of the congress; therefore we will dedicate several seminars and round table discussions to literature dealing with movement in the world”, the WALTIC organizers said before the beginning of the congress.
Translators facilitate the relationship between cultures. Translators are important people in conveying knowledge in a globalized world. One of the main topics of the congress was Translation. People in different events of the congress strive to discuss new ways for raising the status of translators. Also the ways of appropriate conveying of experiences between different languages and cultures were discussed.
Digitalization and its rule in literary production was another topic of the congress. The main concern was how writers and translators can utilize new communication technologies like internet to promote intercultural dialogue and human rights. Furthermore, with the rapid expansion of internet, new issues regarding to copyright and freedom of speech have been raised. These new issues alongside with new ways of reinforcing democracy were also discussed.
In the event, Over 600 participant writers and intellectuals from around the world decried censorship. Also President of the Swedish Writers' Union Mats Söderlund criticized the cultural policy of the Swedish Government, which he claimed is more or less blind to the crucial role of literature for social development. Nearly 400 people have signed the WALTIC resolution to increase literacy, safeguard freedom of speech and strengthen authors’ rights.
According to SFF authorities the next WALTIC congress is scheduled for 2010.
