Guide for an inclusive language in court and legal documents

Livia Holden (1, 2) , Holden Anna

1 ISJPS - Institut des sciences juridique et philosophique de la Sorbonne - UMR 8103
2 CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

The CULTEXP, guide for inclusive language in court and legal documents is an important component of the measures implemented by CULTEXP. As the first multilingual and cross-jurisdictional database on cultural expertise, CULTEXP aims to support inclusive justice, raise awareness among legal professionals and experts about the significance of using inclusive and non-discriminatory language, and prevent potential misuse of data for racial or ethnic profiling and other forms of discrimination. The guide offers an overview of various sources and trends related to inclusive language. It also presents guidelines to enhance awareness regarding the necessity of adopting an inclusive language. Furthermore, the guide emphasizes the importance of self-generating capacities to develop an inclusive language that takes into account specific contexts, facts, and circumstances. While the guide primarily focuses on English as the primary language of the CULTEXP Proof of Concept project (ERC Grant 966614), it has the potential to be expanded to other languages. Recognizing the dynamic nature of language and its evolution over time and under different circumstances, the guide proposes an approach of generative knowledge. This approach aims to make existing language more inclusive by incorporating the inputs of affected individuals and communities, in combination with existing laws and regulations. The CULTEXP guide for inclusive language in court and legal documents is firmly rooted in European Union and international law and conventions on equality, diversity, and non-discrimination. It draws upon European and international policy guides and reports as valuable sources, providing instructions and strategies to avoid racial or ethnic profiling and promote the use of non-discriminatory language.

Mots clés: inclusive language; cultural expertise; law courts; legal documents

Domaines: Sciences de l'Homme et Société

Livia Holden, Holden Anna. Guide for an inclusive language in court and legal documents. CULTEXP. 2023. ⟨hal-04108593v1⟩