We sign for Human Rights.
We sign for Human Rights. – Thursday 23rd September 2021
“We Sign For Human Rights! On this International Day of Sign Languages, we celebrate our collective efforts- deaf communities, governments, and civil society representatives- to recognize and promote the over 200 different national sign languages around the world. Together we sign onto a declaration of support for sign languages as an essential human right for deaf people, and sign for human rights!”
This morning Jean received an email and the article from the United Nations as they celebrated our unique sign language around the world. Here is the link – https://www.un.org/en/observances/sign-languages-day?fbclid=IwAR1JWMsHb-XDMqsSZAK6LedBm_lWiBvLhu0y0znG13sFsxOgakSes8Ausas
There is a video clip which you can watch – https://vimeo.com/245920575# (note: the video clip made four years ago.)
The European Parliament approved the resolution requiring all member states to adopt sign language in an official capacity on June 17, 1988.
Of the 72 million deaf people globally, only 2% of D/deaf people and D/deaf with disabled people have access to formal education, while less than 1% are informal employment. The biggest challenge to the deaf community is stigmatization, as people consider the disability a hindrance to one’s ability to engage in the duties and activities performed by ordinary people.
Human rights are universal, indivisible and interconnected. They belong to all people, regardless of gender, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or other statuses such as disability or deafness. Unfortunately, deaf people’s rights are often overlooked or denied due to societal prejudices and incorrect assumptions, especially in developing countries. The WFD works towards promoting and advancing the human rights of deaf people, particularly in the following areas:
- sign language rights
- deaf cultures and linguistic identity
- bilingual education
- lifelong learning
- accessibility
- equal employment opportunities
- equal participation
Five out of fifty articles of the CRPD relate directly to deaf persons. Knowing them helps you understand how D/deaf people and D/deaf people with other disabilities can achieve inclusion with sign language.
There are: – Article 2: Definition
Article 9: Accessibly
Article 21: Freedom of expression and opinion and access to information
Article 24: Education
Article 30: Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport
The Legal Recognition of National Sign Languages
Recently there were few more countries where D/deaf people used their sign language joined into the legal recognition of National Sign Language this year, which is still growing. Here is the map of the legal recognition of National Sign language.
The World Federation of Deaf People reached its milestone. This unique 70th Anniversary logo is to commemorate our 70 years of work for sign languages and deaf people’s human rights this year.
The logo was launched at the 1999 World’s Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, the ribbon’s colour blue based on the WFD’s official colours.
- The ribbon symbolises deaf people’s ongoing struggles against oppression and centuries of attempts to abolish sign languages.
- The blue ribbon also symbolises the persistence of deaf people in the face of oppression and the growth of deaf communities around the world.
- The ribbon stands as a symbol of ongoing resistance by deaf people and our allies against attempts to eradicate sign languages.
- The ribbon is also a celebration of our creation of spaces for sign languages and the many unique and diverse signing communities around the world today.
For more information on the Blue Ribbon, see Paddy Ladd (2003) Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood, pp. 469-471. https://wfdeaf.org/70th-anniversary/
