News:

• WASLI - World Association of Sign Language Interpreters
• Many thousand Hungarian and more than 30 foreign deaf and hard of hearing people, human rights experts, key political figures and civil society activist, and the public at large gathered in Budapest,
• International Deaf day/ International weeks of the Deaf celebrations around the world
• The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) calls upon the global Deaf Community to celebrate Int'l Deaf Awareness Day on Sept. 29th, 2007 and Int'l Deaf Awareness Week Sept. 23rd to 28th, 2007!
• “Sign languages are the origin”
• Cerezales proposes the creation of a network in solidarity
• Deaf Women Have Their Say
• The Spanish vice prime minister María Fernández de la Vega, Luis Cañón and Markku Jokinen open the 15th World Congress of the WFD
• Education
• Cooperation towards development
• The long path towards the acknowledgement of Spanish sign language
• WFD General Assembly - Madrid, Spain - July 15, 2007
• Don Mackay - Breaking Down Barriers. The New United Nations Convention concerning the Rights of Disabled Persons
• Dr. Liisa Kauppinen Awarded the WFD Human Rights Prize
• Meeting with Mr. Sergey Mironov, Chairman of Council of Federation of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
• Press Release - "The Linguistic Rights of the Deaf: State Support, Research and Use of Sign Language"
• The First International Forum of the Deaf in Fez, Morocco
• Deaf students across the globe to benefit from new international centre for sign language and Deaf studies
• Forum for Deaf People in the Balkans
• NEW HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTION PROTECTS WIDELY DEAF PEOPLE’S RIGHTS
• Representatives of the Asian and Pacific countries discussed human rights and sign language interpreting
• Landmark federal court decision for Deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing Canadians
• FORMER WFD GENERAL SECRETARY DR MAGAROTTO DIES
• Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
• WFD Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations - 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting
• 21 August 2006 - WFD Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations - 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting
• 23rd August 2006 - WFD Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations - 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting
• 25 August 2006 - WFD Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations - 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting

BELGIUM
On April 26th, 2006, Flemish Sign Language (VGT) was recognized by the Flemish Parliament.
From September 22nd till September 29th, 2007, the Flemish Deaf Association arranged an awareness campaign about Flemish Sign Language, which included a television spot, a new website and a flyer action for recognition of this minority language. The campaign’s aim was to make people aware of Flemish Sign Language as a fully-fledged language.

CANADA
On September 26th over 3,000 supporters participated in Sign Language Rights’ Rallies across Canada. The campaign received a lot of media coverage and caught the attention of all levels of government. Education authorities across Canada are committed to working with the Deaf communities to ensure that sign language rights are respected and implemented accordingly, for example by legalizing sign language and by lifting the prohibition against sign language for children with cochlear implants.

IRELAND
On September 22nd, the Irish Deaf Society organized many colorful events such as ISL Pride March, launch of “Learn ISL Week” and arts and culture show and Deaf leaders’ breakfast and morning coffee at the Writers’ Museum in Dublin.
The Irish Deaf Society (IDS) aims to create a harmonious collaboration with society through integration of the Deaf community into wider society in Ireland. The IDS calls on the Government to oblige and recognize ISL, which will guarantee the basic human rights of all Deaf in education, communication access, and employment. 

ITALY
From September 24th to October 10th local branches of the Italian Association of the Deaf (ENS) promoted events and actions to enhance deaf awareness and knowledge of the deaf community, which is part of political action that will hopefully lead to Italian Sign Language being officially recognized by law.

LITHUANIA
The Lithuanian parliament organized a national conference called “Sign language and its importance for social integrations of the Deaf”.

MEXICO
On September 28th, 2007 a “Quiet March” in support of Sign Language Rights was held in different cities around Mexico.  

NEPAL
International Deaf Day 2007 was celebrated with the aim to promote understanding of Deaf issues and to mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of Deaf people. This year the Nepal National Federation of the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing (NFDH) has tried to increase awareness of the gains to be derived from the integration of Deaf people in every aspect of political, economic and cultural life. This was done, for instance, by arranging a Deaf march.  On September 29th, NFDH organized a Friendly Football Match between the Deaf School, Kathmandu and NFDH, which was subsequently won by the Deaf School.

SRI LANKA
On September 22nd, 2007 the Central Federation of the Deaf in Sri Lanka arranged a walk to raise funds for a Vocational Training Centre for deaf youth. The theme of the walk was “The importance of human rights through sign language.” On September 23rd both deaf and hearing people gathered at the largest International Conference Hall in the Colombo and spoke of Deaf rights and sign language.  A new Sign Language Dictionary was presented to the public on International Deaf Day celebrations on September, 23rd.  The Sign Language Dictionary focuses on support for Sign Language and Deaf children’s rights to education.

UGANDA
Uganda’s theme was “Education for All: Are the Deaf benefiting too?” and it draw the attention of service providers for protecting Human rights of the Deaf through Education and Sign Language.
On September 20th a football match was held between the Uganda National Association of the Deaf and a University team comprising of hearing students. The Uganda National Association of the Deaf celebrated International Deaf week from September 17th-21st by also doing charity work, gave lectures on sensitization of deafness and Sign Language at schools and universities that have integrated Deaf students.  The association also had a public debate on quality education for Deaf students and what government should do to improve the status of Sign Language and on how to increase resources for purchasing more SL teaching materials. Also, a petition on disability issues was given to the speaker of the Parliament.

UNITES STATES OF AMERICA
On September 28th, the American National Association of the Deaf (NAD) hosted “Celebrate ASL!” observance on the front steps of Chapel Hall at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.
On the same day noted deaf artist Bernard Bragg presented his new “Theatre in the Sky” performance at the Elstad Auditorium of the same university.
In order to further promote human rights through sign languages, the NAD Board of Directors is developing a position statement that will reaffirm its historic stance on ASL.

The last plenary session of the 15th Congress of the WFD: "Sign Languages: Fraternal Languages," was headed by the prestigious researcher from the University of Alicante, Ángel Herrero. The Professor was in charge of inaugurating the Sign Language Council. Herrero stated that sign languages are innate, irreplaceable and far more accessible than oral languages, and qualified them as real instruments to transmit culture and knowledge.

Carmen Cerezales, President of the National Women's Council, emphasised in her plenary speech that one of the priorities of the associative movement of deaf persons in Spain is to achieve a real equality between men and women; and, also, that the creation by the WFD of a network in solidarity of deaf women that is reviewed and updated periodically would be necessary.

For the first time in history, a World Congress of the WFD provides a specific council to deaf women. The Council started with the intervention of Soledad Murillo, Secretary General of Equal Opportunities Policies in the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, who qualified the resources provided by women to society as numerous. Murillo was sorry not to know sign language that would have allowed her to express herself more efficiently and she highlighted that the vulnerability of men and women alike was, above all, attributable to the social circumstances surrounding them. Murillo added that "disability mustn't be the only word that characterises deaf people". Euphrasia Mbewe, WFD representative in the Global Disability and Development Association of the World Bank, claimed in her speech that "in development countries, women's freedom of choice is not respected and for this reason their participation is essential to legally defend their rights". The first speaker in the plenary session, Euphrasia Mbewe, explained the situation of deaf women in development countries, where there is a shortage of information and education, and where religious influence makes it very difficult to achieve gender equality.

Madrid - world capital city of the deaf

The Spanish vice prime minister, María Fernández de la Vega, accompanied by the President of CNSE, Luis Cañón, and the President of the World Federation of the Deaf, Markku Jokinen, opened the 15th World Congress of the World Federation of theDeaf, which started this Monday, 16th July at the IFEMA Congress Centre in Madrid, Spain.

The President of the WFD, Markku Jokinen, congratulated the organisation for the extraordinary work undertaken in the last years, which has facilitated the organisation of a perfect congress. The President of the CNSE, Luis Cañón, welcomed the attendants and announced the coming acknowledgement of Sign Languages in Spain. He was also glad about the fact that this Congress has given a significant prominence to the culture of the deaf and the need to strengthen solidarity bonds between all associative movements with the aim of achieving the goals we have in mind. "We must not conform with what others say we are, we have the right to define who we are, what we want and which is our identity."

Different education issues were the protagonists of the speeches on Thursday. For instance, the case of an occupational therapy centre in Valencia that has included a deaf educator among its staff, or the proposal of the Norwegian expert Lars Hansen who has substituted the traditional alphabet for a set of photographs and symbols. Hansen explained the case of a publication in Norway that uses his system to publish articles and reports that, otherwise, would not be accessible to many deaf persons.

On Thursday, July 19th, The Danish expert Asger Bergmann opened the day with a speech regarding projects for actions aimed at deaf persons. The cases of Albania, Kosovo and Madagascar were analysed during the day. Later in the day, the level of compliance with UN resolutions on the development needs of the deaf was studied. The session ended with a number of recommendations that the different countries should follow to include the deaf collective in their development projects.

Sign language continues to be the undeniable protagonist during the third day of the Congress.

The president of the Spanish State Confederation of Deaf Persons (CNSE), Luis Jesús Cañón, carried out an overview of the path undertaken by the organisation to achieve the acknowledgement of the Spanish and Catalan sign languages. A long path that started in 1936 when Juan Luis Marroquín founded the CNSE. Luis Cañón explained how the first dictionaries and sign language courses were started during the 80s, and how television started to broadcast programmes with an interpreter. "The Royal Decree establishing the Higher Technical Certificate in Sign Language Interpretation was a result of this political work with the administration, as well as the first linguistic research and experiences in bilingual education", Cañón pointed out.

In the year 2000, the next step was taken with the Action Plan for the legal acknowledgement of sign language, and the meetings with the 17 Autonomous Communities started. At these meetings, the CNSE and each of the regional Federations explained Cañón's exposition continued with the results of these negotiations between the CNSE and the Government. The Law reached Parliament. "One month ago, the Congress of Deputies passed this law supported by all parliamentary groups." In his final appraisal, the president of the CNSE highlighted that "the law that acknowledges sign language in Spain includes, amongst other issues, the commitment to facilitate sign language interpreter services in several spheres such as education and health centres that attend deaf persons, information and customer services in sea, land and air transport, as well as in cultural and sports activities."

On Sunday, July 15th, The World Federation of the Deaf, WFD, at its 17th Genaral Assembly in Madrid, Spain, unanimously re-elected Mr Markku Jokinen of Finland as President of the federation for the next four years. Mr Feliciano Sola Limia continues as vice President and the rest of the WFD Board consists of:

• Mr. Colin Allen (Australia)
• Ms. Deborah Oyuu Iyute (Uganda)
• Mr. Bikash Dangol (Nepal)
• Mr. Johan Bert Wesemann (the Netherlands)
• Ms. Hanne B. Kvitvaer (Norway)
• Mr. Valery Rukhledev (Russia)
• Ms. Wilma Susan Newhoudt-Druchen (South Africa)
• Mr. Tomas Hedberg (Sweden)
• Mr. Joseph Murray (USA)

Two of the new board members are African women.

81 members states were represented at the WFD General Assembly, which was the largest GA ever. The General Assembly approved changes to the WFD Statutes, and voted for the WFD’s legal seat to be in Helsinki, Finland. It also decided that the next WFD General Assembly and World Congress will be held in Durban, South Africa in July 2011.

On July 18th, 2007, Ambassador Don Mackay inaugurated the Scientific Programme of the 15th World Congress of the WFD with the speech "Breaking down Barriers. The New United Nations Convention concerning the Rights of Disabled Persons". Don Mackay, one of the persons in charge of preparing the Universal Declaration of Rights of Disabled Persons for the United Nations and an expert in the reality of deaf persons, stressed during his intervention that the involvement of deaf persons in the negotiations prior to passing this Convention has been of vital importance, as only they know the challenges and difficulties that this collective encounter with regard to education, communication, employment and participation in cultural life. The Convention acknowledges sign languages as languages with full rights. According to Mackay, "the rights of disabled persons are, above all, an issue of human rights; any prejudice is in itself 'disabling'; a change in the mentality of society is inescapable, together with a clear commitment with equality and non-discrimination."

Dr. Liisa Kauppinen, the ex-president of the World Federation of the Deaf received the WFD Human Rights Prize for her dedication and contribution to the struggle for the human rights of deaf persons. Visibly moved, the ex-president of the WFD thanked the WFD Council for the prize. Liisa Kauppinen, in the photo with Don Mackay, has carried out intense work with international institutions for the acknowledgement of the rights and needs of deaf persons.

23 May 2007, Moscow, Russia. Mr. Sergey Mironov, Chairman of Council of Federation has met the Participants of the International Conference "The Linguistic Rights of the Deaf: State Support, Research and Use of Sign Language".

International Deaf Community represented Mr. Markku Jokinen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf, Ms. Helga Stevens, President of the European Union of the Deaf, Mr. Thorsten Afflerbach, Head Division of the Partial Agreement in the Social and Public Health Field, Directorate General III - Social Cohesion, Council of Europe, Ms. Elizabeth Scott-Gibson, President of World Association of Sign Language Interpreters, Mr. Valery Rukhledev, President of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf, Mr. Alexander Gorelik, Director of the UN Information Centre in Moscow.

Participants of the Conference have told Sergey Mironov about results of the Conference "The Linguistic Rights of the Deaf: State Support, Research and Use of Sign Language" in Moscow. Central topic of the Conference became a problem of state support of Sign Language. President of the World Federation of the Deaf Mr. Markku Jokinen has expressed hope for prompt ratification of the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the Russian Federation.

Sergey Mironov has declared that Council of Federation pays the large attention to problems of Persons with Disabilities, including, problems of the Deaf. 15 June 2007 the UN Information Centre in Moscow with Council of Federation of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation organizes Seminar "Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Access to E-means of the communications". At the Chairman of Council of Federation works Commission on Persons with Disabilities. "As against many countries, the problem of Sign Language in Russia yet is not decided. According to the legislation, it is language of interpersonal communication, but we consider that it is necessary to it to give the state status", - has told Mr. Mironov. Telling about Commission on Persons with Disabilities, Sergey Mironov has resulted concrete example of results of his activity: occurrence this year of subtitles for the Deaf during the New Year's Greeting of the President of the Russian Federation to the Russians on TV.

Finishing meeting, Sergey Mironov has expressed reliance that legislators of the Russian Federation will use the best efforts for ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and introduction all of its rules to life.

All-Russian Society of the Deaf

Left to right: Sibaji Panda, Jun Hui Yang, WFD's Vice President Feliciano Sola Limia; ISlanDS director, Professor Ulrike Zeshan and WFD board member Francis Boison. The delegates are signing the words "iSLandDS Centre Preston."

a) Where a deaf or hard of hearing person receives services or participates in programs administered by the Government of Canada, sign language interpreters are to be provided.

b) Where the Government of Canada engages in public or private consultations with non-governmental organizations in the development of policy and programs in which the deaf and hard of hearing have identifiable interests, sign language interpreters must be provided where organizations of deaf and hard of hearing people wish to be involved.

c) In the above circumstances, the Government of Canada is responsible for the cost of access.

24 August 2006  

Representatives at the 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting 

WFD President Jokinen is pleased to see that the number of Deaf representatives has increased rapidly since the first day of the Ad Hoc Session.  Other Deaf representatives who have joined are: Australia Representative (NGO Representative), Italy Representative (Government Representative) and Colombia (NGO Representative) to a total of 15 Deaf Representatives five of whom are officially appointed by their country government.

Please note, not all representatives represent their Country National Association of the Deaf – some representatives are appointed by their non-government organisations.

Ambassador MacKay of again assumed the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee.  He noted the large size of governmental delegations, and NGOs, including some 800 registered civil society representatives.  

A special meeting arranged by the International Disability Caucus was held in the morning of Thursday, 16th August with Ambassador MacKay giving an overview of the current convention.  He stated the current convention has 33 different articles applied to people with disabilities and any new proposed major changes to articles will not be accepted however this session is to refine the draft articles.  He is encouraging everyone to work to have this final proposed convention to be adopted by the government representatives at the conclusion of 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting.  The proposed convention shall be submitted to the United Nation’s 61st General Assembly Meeting to be adopted by the country ambassadors.

Ambassador MacKay, WFD President Jokinen, WFD Emeritus Kauppinen and WFD Board Member, Colin Allen

WFD President Jokinen and WFD President Emeritus Kauppinen continue to monitor the draft articles, which are most important for Deaf people, which are:

Article 2, Definitions

“Communication” includes spoken and signed languages, the display of text, and Braille, and tactile communication, large print, written, audio, accessible multimedia, plain language, human reader and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, including accessible information and communication technology;

“Language” includes spoken and signed languages and other forms of non-spoken languages;

(b)        Accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official interactions; 

(e)        Recognizing and promoting the use of sign language.

3 (b)     Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community

3 (c)     Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who are blind, deaf and deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximize academic and social development.

4.         Persons with disabilities shall be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including sign languages and deaf culture.

Both Jokinen and Kauppinen are determined to ensure the above draft articles will be adopted by the Government Representatives as these articles are based on WFD’s principles for every Deaf people globally.

WFD is a member of the International Disability Caucus (IDC) and here’s an updated daily bulletin from IDC (summarised):

International Disability Caucus News Page for 16th August morning session:

21st August 2006

The 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting is in the second week to discuss the very important global Convention for every Person with Disability. The Committee has received 140 proposals from the country government representatives to modify or revise the articles of the Convention.  Ambassador MacKay who is chairing this Session, stressed that the 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting should be the last one since its inception in 2001 because there is a large financial burden on many representatives from the disability organisations around the world. There are approximately 800 representatives registered from the Civil Society. 

The proposals can be found on http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc8contgovs.htm

There are four articles of the Convention which have been accepted by the country government representatives, as follows:

•    Article 10 -    Right to life
•    Article 14 -    Liberty and security of the person
•    Article 19 -    Living independently and being included in the community
•    Article 22 -    Respect for privacy

The convention articles can be found on:

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc7report-e.htm

WFD President Jokinen and WFD President Emeritus Kauppinen have prepared the WFD arguments to respond to revisions of the relevant articles which are of concern to WFD and every Deaf person globally; and both of them continue to closely observe any revisions or deletion based on:

Article 2
Definitions

The deletion of the definition of “language”

WFD opposes deletion of the definition of language, because the definition of language reinforces that “sign language” mentioned in Articles 9, 21, 24 and 30 is a language and not only some method of communication of lower status. There is still wide ignorance that sign languages are indeed languages in their own right. In fact, sign languages are complete, independent languages with their own grammars and they are not related to spoken languages in the countries where they exist. The Convention must thus state clearly that sign languages are equal to spoken languages.

Article 21
Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information

The paragraph (e) to be merged into paragraph (b)

WFD states that paragraph (b) is the only place where sign language, Braille and other means of communication are mentioned relating to official interactions. This is very important for equal interaction, freedom of expression and opinion, access to information, taking care of practical daily matters, juridical and other matters.

WFD also states that paragraph (e) should not be merged, because this ensures that sign language used by deaf and other children is seen as language needed in families, childhood activities, education, social development and for production of learning materials. It also ensures sign language research and participation of all deaf people of different ages in many aspects of life. This paragraph recognizes and supports other rights stated in the Convention. Without recognition, acceptance and facilitation of use of sign language there is no foundation for enjoying other human rights.

Both paragraphs are thus not similar ones and do not duplicate each other.

Please note: WFD representatives and NGO representatives from the Ordinary members of WFD have done their negotiations to request this proposal to be withdrawn.  It is confirmed this proposal was withdrawn by the country government representatives.

Article 24
Education

The proposals to include other groups of persons with disabilities in paragraph 3c in article 24 Education.

WFD states that paragraphs 3 and 4 are intended to mean only deaf, blind and deafblind persons, not those persons who both see and hear. Those persons who are “variously disadvantaged” or “slow learners of persons with intellectual disabilities” belong to paragraph 2.

WFD President Emeritus Kauppinen occupies the role of chair to facilitate the International Disability Caucus meeting held in the morning (8.30 – 9.15) and evening (18.00 –20.00) every day until the end of the 8th Session.

WFD Emeritus Kauppinen chair the meeting of International Disability Caucus

International Disability Caucus News Page for 21st August (Summarised)

IDC concerned about definition of disability or persons with disabilities

• The IDC is concerned about some of the proposals currently being discussed in the structured informals on definition of disability.
• The proposal to refer to persistent impairment is not acceptable to the IDC.  We also oppose to the use of the term “mental” impairment, which is old fashioned terminology, mixing up two very different groups, namely those with an intellectual disability and those with a psychosocial”.  Moreover, we feel that the definition of disability in this Convention should not weaken the definition used in the UN Standard Rules, which is generally accepted.
• Finally, any reference to national laws in the context of the definition of disability completely undermines the purpose of such a definition.
• IDC would like to signal its support to the following proposals:
• Text proposed by Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia on preambular paragraph (s) as well as article 11.  The IDC wants to ensure that persons with disabilities are covered in any these circumstances.
• IDC supports the deletion of preamble paragraph (u) as proposed by the European Union, as the purpose of this paragraph is unclear.
• IDC supports the proposal made by Kenya to move “denial of reasonable accommodation” to the first sentence of the definition of discrimination on the basis of disability in article 2.
• IDC supports the proposal made by Australia to replace “undue burden” by “unjustifiable hardship” in the definition of reasonable accommodation in article 2.
• Proposal submitted by Thailand on the definition of universal design in article 2.
• Proposal submitted by Costa Rica on a new paragraph in article 4 on national remedies.
• Proposal submitted by the European Union to replace “promote by guarantee” in article 5 paragraph c.
• IDC supports the amendments submitted by the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which include the reference to the “due weight be given to the age and maturity of the child” (Article 7)
• Proposal submitted by Uganda to add the word inherent” before “dignity” in article 8 paragraph 1a) to align it with the wording used in articles 1 and 3.
• Proposal submitted by Israel to delete paragraph 2b in article 9, to ensure that all services and facilities are accessible with no distinction between privately or publicly ownership.
• Proposals submitted by Thailand related to article 21 on access to information, to align these obligations with those included in article 9 Accessibility.  We also agree with Venezuela that the list in the chapeau of article 21 should be deleted and referred back to the list included in article 2 when defining communication.
• Proposal submitted by the EU to the chapeau of paragraph 1 in article 23, but we don’t accept the proposal to delete paragraph a).
• Proposal submitted by Uganda on article 26 Rehabilitation and Habilitation.
• Proposal submitted by the EU to add “in all of” in paragraph 1a) of article 27, as well as the GRULAC proposal to add “cooperatives” in paragraph 1 f.
• Proposal submitted by Mexico to include a reference to “access to clean water” in article 28.

• Any chance to the paragraph 3 in article 4 which deals with the active involvement of representatives organisations of persons with disabilities in policy making.
• Any of the proposed changes to article 33 on national implementation and monitoring
• The deletion of the definition of language in article 2, as well as the proposal to delete paragraphs b) and e) in article 21, which would mean the deletion of sign language in the Convention text.
• The proposal to include other groups of persons with disabilities in paragraph 3c in article 24 Education.

Reference to “indigenous” in preamble paragraph (n)

Finally, although no Government has stated support for the IDC proposal to include “indigenous” in the list of grounds in preambular paragraph n), IDC continues to support the term “indigenous” in this preamble paragraph. 

WFD Representatives and NGO Representatives (Deaf)

 WFD Representatives and Government Representative (Deaf)

This week WFD Representatives Jokinen and Kauppinen and a number of representatives from the Ordinary members of the WFD have been working together to negotiate with the government representatives on the relevant articles:

Article No 2 –               Definitions: Definition of language
Article No 9 –               Accessibility
Article No 21 –             Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information
Article No 30 –             Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport

For last few days, the government representatives have adopted all of the above articles.  WFD President Jokinen and Deaf representatives were relieved that the Article 2 - the definition of language was adopted. This is significant because it gives global recognition to sign languages as independent languages in their own right.

WFD Representatives will continue to closely monitor progress on Article 24 about Education, especially subparagraph 3 (c) in the hopes that it will be adopted.

The government representatives as following have adopted a number of articles:

21st August:

• Article 10 -       Right to life
• Article 14 -       Liberty and security of the person
• Article 19 -       Living independently and being included in the community
• Article 22 -       Respect for privacy
• Article 30 -       Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport
• Article 31 -       Statistics and data collection

22nd August

• Article 3 -         General principles
• Article 7 -         Children with disabilities
• Article 8 -         Awareness-raising
• Article 13 -       Access of Justice
• Article 18 -       Liberty of Movement and nationality
• Article 20 -       Personal mobility
• Article 21 -       Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information

23rd August

• Article 5 -         Equality and non-discrimination
• Article 9 -         Accessibility
• Article 26 -       Habilitation and rehabilitation

WFD President Emeritus Liisa Kauppinen

• drafting committee will convene to revise the text with a mandate not to modify any substantive issue in the Convention
• one day of the Ad Hoc Committee meeting for receiving and approving the report back from the drafting committee
• translation of the text into all the official languages
• adoption of the Convention by the General Assembly

• Mr Colin Allen – WFD Representative
• Mr Alastair McEwin – NGO Representative

• Ms Pamela Molina – NGO Representative

• Ms Martha Lucia Osorno Posada – WFD Representative

• Mr Markku Jokinen – WFD President
• Dr Liisa Kauppinen – WFD Emeritus President

• Ms Ida Collu – Government Representative
• Ms Serena Corazza  – Government Representative

• Mr Fujisaburo Ishino – NGO Representative
• Mr Norihiko Nishitaki - NGO Representative

• Mr Ali Obaid Al-Sanari – Government Representative

• Mr Valery Rukhledev – Government Representative

• Mr Mxolisi Mvimbi – Government Representative

• Ms Min-ja Jung – NGO Representative

(a) Buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces;

(b) Information, communications and other services, including electronic services and emergency services.

(a) To develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public;

(b) To ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services which are open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities;

(c) To provide training for stakeholders on accessibility issues facing persons with disabilities;

(d) To provide in buildings and other facilities open to the public signage in Braille and in easy to read and understand forms;

(e) To provide forms of live assistance and intermediaries, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public;

(f) To promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information;

(g) To promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communication technologies and systems, including the Internet;

(h) To promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.

(a) Providing information intended for the general public to persons with disabilities in accessible formats and technologies appropriate to different kinds of disabilities in a timely manner and without additional cost;

(b) Accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official interactions;

(c) Urging private entities that provide services to the general public, including through the Internet, to provide information and services in accessible and usable formats for persons with disabilities;

(d) Encouraging the mass media, including providers of information through the Internet, to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities;

(e) Recognizing and promoting the use of sign language.

(a) The full development of the human potential and sense of dignity and self worth, and the strengthening of r