Every year on September 23, the world celebrates the International Day of Sign Languages, a day devoted to raising awareness of the value of sign languages as an essential human right for the world's deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. This significant occasion becomes even more important in 2024 as activists, governments, and organisations work to promote more accessibility, inclusiveness, and respect for language diversity everywhere in the world.
What is the Background of the International Day of Sign Languages?
Established on September 23, 1951, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) carries strong ties to the International Day of Sign Languages. This organisation has led the global movement to support deaf people's rights, particularly the ability to communicate through sign language.
The International Week of the Deaf is observed annually during the final full week of September, and it was established as a result of the WFD's struggle for the recognition of sign language and this week served as an inspiration for establishing a day set aside to honour sign languages, aiming to increase awareness of deaf concerns.
The UN mentions: “The proposal for the Day came from the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), a federation of 135 national associations of deaf people, representing approximately 70 million deaf people’s human rights worldwide.”
“The resolution A/RES/72/161 was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, co-sponsored by 97 United Nations Member States and adopted by consensus on 19 December 2017. The choice of 23 September commemorates the date that the WFD was established in 1951. This day marks the birth of an advocacy organization, which has as one of its main goals, the preservation of sign languages and Deaf culture as pre-requisites to the realization of the human rights of deaf people,” it adds.
The first official International Day of Sign Languages was celebrated on September 23, 2018. It coincided with the International Week of the Deaf, a tradition that has been observed by the deaf community since 1958.
The 2018 celebration was marked by events, discussions, and social media campaigns around the world, highlighting the importance of sign languages in ensuring inclusivity and equal access for the deaf community.
The UN further states: “The International Day of Sign Languages was first celebrated in 2018 as part of the International Week of the Deaf.”
International Day of Sign Languages 2024: Theme
The theme for the International Day of Sign Languages 2024 is "Sign Up for Sign Language Rights." This theme emphasises the importance of advocating for the legal recognition and protection of national sign languages around the world. As part of this year's celebrations, world leaders, government officials, and advocates are encouraged to use their national sign languages to promote the linguistic and human rights of deaf communities.
The UN mentions: “During the 2024 celebration, the world will once again highlight the unity generated by sign languages. World leaders and other government officials are invited to sign this year’s theme “Sign up for Sign Language Rights” in their national sign language.”
In conclusion, The International Day of Sign Languages 2024 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusion, linguistic diversity, and human rights. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the rich culture of the deaf community and raise awareness about the vital role that sign languages play in the lives of millions around the world.
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