Guidelines for Achieving Sign Language Rights: a WFD Advocacy Toolkit
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Deaf people worldwide have historically faced and continue to confront situations of discrimination with the use of their national sign languages. These situations of discrimination happen systematically and frequently at various times in their daily lives by not having equal and real time access to information and communication. One of the most affected areas is education. Deaf children are put at risk of language deprivation due to the lack of quality education in their national sign language. WFD considers this a serious human rights violation. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the disparities of deaf people in accessing quality, reliable and lifesaving information and services in their national sign languages. This lack of access has had a detrimental effect to deaf people’s lives in some parts of the globe. This is caused by a lack of awareness by public authorities on the fundamental rights of deaf people to impart information in their national sign languages. The right to use one’s own national language, including national sign language, is a principle acknowledged in international human rights frameworks. This recognition must be translated and implemented at the national, regional, and local levels. Consequently, the XVIII General Assembly of the WFD in 2019 adopted its 2020- 2030 Strategic Direction and the WFD Charter for Sign Language Rights called for further legal recognition of national sign languages. With this toolkit, WFD affirms the commitment to support our Ordinary Members and general organisations led by deaf people, with the resources and tools necessary to support their advocacy efforts to achieve significant and adequate legal recognition of their national sign languages. Along with that, updated data to ensure national policies are put in place that implement these linguistic rights to use their national sign languages in all areas of life.