The Week of Deaf People / Week of the Deaf has been celebrated annually across the world during the last full week of September to recognise that deaf people have our own communities, our own cultures, our own languages, sign languages, which unite them all.

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf. The resolution A/RES/72/161 establishing the day acknowledges that early access to sign language and services in sign language, including quality education available in sign language, is vital to the growth and development of the deaf individual and critical to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals. It recognizes the importance of preserving sign languages as part of linguistic and cultural diversity. It also emphasizes the principle of “nothing about us without us” in terms of working with deaf communities. In 2018, it was celebrated together with the official International Day of Sign Languages, declared by the United Nations (UN), for the first time. The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), its national associations, and their affiliates all over the world observe International Week of the Deaf from Monday through Sunday, culminating in International Day of the Deaf on the final Sunday of the week. In order to commemorate International Week of the Deaf, the WFD invites its national associations and their affiliates to center their celebrations on the theme of Human Rights through Sign Languages. With this emphasis, deaf culture and the accomplishments of deaf people are highlighted more and are positively portrayed. This emphasis fosters better deaf people’s rights advocacy activities and strengthens the bonds of solidarity between deaf people and those who support them.

Links:
#IWDP #IDSL Week of Deaf People / Day of Sign Languages 2023

We Sign for Human Rights

Day of Sign Languages / Dag van Gebarentalen

2016-07-15, Halfdoof