September 23rd, designated as the International Day of Sign Languages by the United Nations General Assembly, stands as a significant annual event aimed at raising awareness about the indispensable role of sign language in safeguarding the human rights of deaf individuals. This day, observed worldwide, offers a valuable platform to celebrate and protect the linguistic and cultural legacy of the deaf community, recognizing sign language as a unifying and essential means of communication. It’s noteworthy that the International Day of Sign Languages adopts a unique theme each year, encouraging active participation in related activities to foster a deeper appreciation of sign language’s significance.
The inception of the International Day of Sign Languages can be attributed to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), an organization dedicated to advocating for the human rights of approximately 70 million deaf individuals across 135 national member associations. The inaugural celebration of this day took place in 2018 as part of the International Week of the Deaf.
This year’s theme, “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”, underscores the unifying potency of sign languages, highlighting their critical importance for deaf communities, governments, and civil society organizations alike.
The significance of the International Day of Sign Languages encompasses several vital objectives:
- Promoting Linguistic Identity and Cultural Heritage: It serves as a platform to celebrate and safeguard the linguistic identity and rich cultural heritage of deaf individuals.
- Advocating for Recognition and Protection: The day advocates for the recognition and protection of sign languages as complete and equal languages in their own right.
- Raising Awareness: It raises awareness about the challenges faced by deaf people in accessing information and services provided in sign language.
- Promoting Inclusion: The day promotes the use of sign language in all aspects of life, including education, employment, healthcare, and government, thereby fostering greater inclusion for the deaf community.
Sign languages, being the natural languages of deaf individuals, are fully developed languages with their own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. These languages are used by deaf communities worldwide to communicate amongst themselves and with hearing individuals who have knowledge of sign language.
The International Day of Sign Languages stands as a crucial opportunity to celebrate the diversity of sign languages and advocate for their utilization across all facets of life. Additionally, it serves as a platform for raising awareness about the challenges confronted by the deaf community and advocating for their rights on a global scale.