#IWDeaf

Human rights are a set of interlinked and inalienable rights inherent to every human being, whatever their nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, religion, culture or language. All human beings have the right to exercise their human rights without discrimination.

Human rights are civil (right to life), political (right to participate in society), economic (right to work) , social (right to be educated), cultural (right to belong to a cultural minority and to use sign languages) and collective (right to development and self-determination) with the leading principles of equality and non-discrimination.

Those rights are indivisible and interdependent. Meaning, it is not possible to isolate only a few rights among the entire set of human rights. The improvement of one right improves the other rights.
Likewise, the deprivation of one right adversely affects the others.

How can we apply that to deaf people and their right to their national sign languages?

Sign languages are the only languages deaf people can use effortlessly and they are the only way for
the deaf people to participate and be fully included in their communities.

The right to sign language and to belong to a Deaf Community is a cultural human right. 
The right to sign language is also linked to their social and economical right to receive quality education in their national sign language and to work in an inclusive environment. The provision of qualified and accredited sign language interpretation is the only way to ensure the equality and non-discrimination of deaf people in their right to access all spheres of society.

Recognising the right of deaf people to use their national sign language is to ensure the fulfilment of these interlinked human rights. This can be achieved via the promotion of national sign languages as a part of national societies. Deaf people should be able to access direct services in all areas of life in
their national sign languages or, when direct language access is not possible, via government-funded qualified and accredited sign language interpretation services. Equality and non-discrimination are fundamental principles in deaf people’s access to society.

Do you agree all deaf people deserve equal opportunities and inclusion in society as part of their human rights? Do you support the use, promotion and dissemination of your national sign languages?
Sign for Human Rights ! Sign the Charter on Sign Language Rights for All!