The theme for the 2024 International Week of Deaf People is focused on, Sign up for Sign Language Rights.
International Day of Sign Languages: Sign Up For Sign Language Rights:
Throughout the week, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) will be highlighting the collective efforts that Deaf communities, governments, and civil society organisations will be making to continue their collective efforts, hand in hand. By fostering this initiative, the WFD, aims to promote and recognise national sign languages as part of their countries’ vibrant and diverse linguistic landscapes.
The celebration was adopted by the United Nations in 2017, annually recognising the 23rd of September as the International Day of Sign Languages.
As part of the weeks celebration, the Global Leader Challenges will continue, having been introduced three years ago. The challenge promotes the use of national sign languages by national and global leaders in partnership with their national associations of deaf people.
Today, the WFD, strives towards a better implementation of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the national level through the linguistic human rights of deaf people in the view of the 20th anniversary of the CRPD in 2026. Included within the CRPD Articles is:
- Article 24. 3B&C- EDUCATION: Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community.
- 24- 3C: Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who are blind, deaf or deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximise academic and social development.
- ARTICLE 30- 4C: PARTICIPATION IN CULTURAL LIFE, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND SPORT: Persons with disabilities shall be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including sign language and deaf culture.
Today, the WFD invites everyone to Sign Up for Sign Language rights by working with your local and national associations to announce the achievement of a concrete goal for deaf communities today.
