In a move it says will help new residents integrate better, the city of Geneva is translating multiple administrative documents and information flyers into English and four other languages, reports thelocal.ch.

The city outlined its decision on its website on Tuesday, highlighting the fact that each year more than 20,000 new residents move to Geneva, many of whom are not francophone.

“Multilingualism constitutes a reality in a city like Geneva,” it said, adding that “language should not be a barrier to obtaining public services.”

After meeting with targeted groups of foreigners in the city, officials from the department of social cohesion and solidarity decided to translate key documents into the five languages most commonly spoken in Geneva after French.

Apart from English, the languages are Portuguese, Spanish, Albanian and Arabic.

Lack of official information in English has long been a bugbear for anglophones in Geneva, which is home to the UN’s European headquarters and more than 40 international organizations, many of whom use English as a primary language.

The documents to be translated include information about steps for new residents to take, in addition to information about children’s daycare services, neighbourhood centres, public works, libraries and culture and sports services.

bbabo.Net