3.1.1. International legislation

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), signed in New York on December 13, 2006, has significantly impacted persons with disabilities within the United Nations human rights protection system. Spain signed and ratified this binding instrument, which was fully integrated into Spanish law on May 3, 2008. The CRPD specifically mentions sign language and deaf culture in several articles (2, 9, 21, 24, and 30), with Article 24 on education being particularly relevant to sign languages.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has made several references to sign languages in its general comments. General Comment No. 1 (2014) addresses Article 12 on equal recognition before the law. General Comment No. 2 (2014) refers to Article 9 on accessibility. General Comment No. 4 (2016) focuses on the right to inclusive education, while No. 6 (2018) centers on equality and non-discrimination.

On December 19, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution proclaiming September 23 as International Day of Sign Languages (A/RES/72/161).

The European Parliament adopted the Resolution on Sign Languages (Doc A2-302/87) on June 17, 1988. This resolution urged member states to support the professionalization of interpreting, promote sign language on television, teach sign language to hearing people, and encourage research and publication of national sign language dictionaries. A decade later, in 1998, the European Parliament passed a second resolution on sign languages (B4-0985/98), reiterating the need for member states to develop measures supporting these languages.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's Recommendation 1492 (2001) on the rights of national minorities calls for sign languages used in Europe to be granted protection similar to that provided by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This recommendation is outlined in section 12.13.

Recommendation 1598 (2003) on the protection of sign languages in member states, approved by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, recognizes sign languages as an expression of Europe's cultural wealth and as an element of Europe's linguistic and cultural heritage.

The European Parliament Resolution of November 13, 2018, on minimum standards for minorities in the European Union (2018/2036[INI]) promotes granting official language status to sign languages. This resolution considers that one in every thousand people uses the national sign language as their first language. In its education section, the resolution emphasizes the need to pay special attention to sign language users (point 50).

The European Parliament Resolution of November 23, 2016, on sign languages and professional sign language interpreters (2016/2952[RSP]) stresses the urgent need for qualified sign language interpreters. It outlines necessary approaches to ensure their availability: official recognition of sign languages, regulated university or similar training, an interpreter registry, official recognition of the profession, and the provision of quality services with adequate compensation.

International legislation on sign languages can be found on the CNLSE website.

Recommended bibliography

Belda Pérez-Pedrero, E. y Sierra Fernández, F. J. (2022). Informe de valoración jurídica de la Ley 27/2007, de 23 de octubre, por la que se reconocen las lenguas de signos españolas y se regulan los medios de apoyo a la comunicación oral de las personas sordas, con discapacidad auditiva y sordociegas tras 15 años. Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad-CNLSE.

Cuenca Gómez, P. (2012). Estudios sobre los derechos de las personas sordas. Dykinson.

De Clerck, G. A. M. (Ed.) (2021). UNCRPD Implementation in Europe – A Deaf Perspective. Article 9: Access to information and communication. EUD.

Kaupinnen, L. y Jokinen, M. (2014). Including Deaf Culture and Linguistic Rights. En M. Sabatello y M. Schulze (Eds.), Human Rights and Disability Advocacy (pp. 131-145). University of Pennsylvania Press.

Murray, J. J., De Meulder, M. y Le Maire, D. (2018). An education in sign language as a human right: The sensory exception in the legislative history and ongoing interpretation of article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Human Rights Quarterly, 40, 37-60.

Pabsch, A. (Ed.) (2014). UNCRPD Implementation in Europe – A Deaf Perspective. Article 29: Participation in Political and Public Life. EUD.

Pabsch, A. y Söderqvist, P. (Eds.) (2015). UNCRPD Implementation in Europe – A Deaf Perspective. Article 27: Work and Employment. EUD.

Reuter, K. (Ed.) (2017). UNCRPD Implementation in Europe – A Deaf Perspective. Article 24: Education. EUD.

Sierra Fernández, F. J. (2023). Protección Jurídico-Constitucional de las Personas Sordas. Tirant Lo Blanch.

Söderqvist, P. (2015). UNCRPD Implementation in Europe – A Deaf Perspective. Article 33: National implementation and monitoring. EUD.

Esteban Saiz, M. L. (2024). Socio-historical background: Status: Current legislation: International legislation. In S. Villameriel García (Ed.), Gramática de la Lengua de Signos Española (GramLSE) / Grammar of Spanish Sign Language (GramLSE). Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad-Centro de Normalización Lingüística de la Lengua de Signos Española. Retrieved Month DD, YYYY, from https://cnlse.es/es/recursos/gramlse/ingles/index/socio-historical-background/chapter-3-status/3-1-current-legislation/3-1-1-international-legislation