Vancouver 2010: A New Era of Participation and Collaboration : Moving forward from the effects of the 1880 Milan Resolution
The 1880 Milan decision by educators, for Deaf People, is a dark historical event. 164 delegates of the International Congress on the Education of Deaf-Mutes gathered in this Italian city to discuss the education of the Deaf and a resolution was passed to ban sign language and promote only oralism in the schools of the Deaf. Only a few delegates opposed this resolution. The immediate impact of the resolution was the purging of Deaf teachers and administrators in schools for the Deaf, including those school s that were set up by the same Deaf people. Although progress have been made in restoring sign language as the language of education for Deaf children there are many jurisdictions around the world that have yet to acknowledge the importance of our preferred language. Through many years of struggle and perseverance Deaf teachers and administrators returned to the schools and reclaimed their place in the education of Deaf children. In spite of these advances in our education of Deaf children a ‘mindset’ became entrenched in general society regarding Deaf people who chose to use sign language and some point to the Milan decision as a factor. That ‘mindset’ viewed those who use sign language as disabled and to be ‘helped’ by the majority group in many societies.
Vancouver, Canada is the site of the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) in July 2010. The congress meets together every five years to share research and ideas regarding education of Deaf people. ICED is not an organization with structure or bylaws it is simply an event where researchers and educators meet to share information and to network. Wayne Sinclair, a member of the British Columbia, Canada Deaf community posed a question at a community town hall meeting regarding the idea of obtaining a recognition that the Milan 1880 decision had a detrimental effect on Deaf people around the world. There was a strong grassroots support to proceed. Wayne, along with four other Deaf community members, wrote a letter to request a meeting with the ICED Vancouver 2010 planning committee to discuss consideration of a public acknowledgement at the congress. The response from the ICED planning committee was positive and expressed an interest to meet with us. A negotiation team was formed with three additional people to meet with a negotiation team from the planning committee.
The goal of the committee is to plant a new marker in the history of Deaf people around the world. The members of the committee hope to be able to establish a new reference point where by we no longer refer back to the 1880 Milan resolution. We are hopeful that a new reference point, The Vancouver 2010: An Era of Participation and Collaboration, be established as a point of renewed effort to ensure equality for all people. The committee hopes to obtain a public agreement to reject the 1880 Milan resolutions (see-insert webpage), acknowledgement of the detrimental effects on Deaf people globally from the Milan resolution, support for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, support of the WFD 2007 resolution, and an active support by educators and researchers for the equal participation of Deaf people in all aspects of policies and governmental decisions in countries around the world. Many Deaf people have indicated that these are important issues especially the acknowledgement of the detrimental effects of the 1880 Milan Resolution.
The core group of Deaf community members agreed that both the Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD) and the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) needed to be informed as the issue was an international one rather than just a local or national issue. Communication was established with both the CAD and the WFD so that we could relay information and solicit advice and perspectives on our negotiations and discussions with the planning committee. Members of the grassroot committee include Wayne Sinclair, Monte Hardy, Hester Hussey, Doug Lambert, Janice Lyons, Kristen Pranzl, Nigel Howard and John Fraser.
The work initiated by the grassroots members of the Deaf community of British Columbia is a step on the path to true participation and collaboration that includes Deaf people in their societies and government around the world. The progress in many countries demonstrates the possibilities and many examples exist to the success of full participation and collaboration. However, there are still many more jurisdictions and countries where Deaf citizens are devalued and excluded.
How can Deaf people support this initiative? Write a letter or e-mail a letter to the ICED 2010 planning committee supporting the following: a) Rejection of the 1880 Milan resolution; b) Acknowledgement of the detrimental effects of the 1880 Milan Resolution; c) Request support for the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability; d) Request support for the WFD 2007 resolution; and e) The participation of Deaf citizens in education and governmental policies in each country; Letters from individuals or associations are encouraged. You can ask the following organizations or agencies to write as well: a) National, state or provincial, and local associations; b) National, state or provincial, and local teacher’s or educator’s associations; c) University or college researchers; and d) National, state or provincial and local governments. The more letters from individuals or organizations that are sent the more strength is given to the 2010 ICED planning committee to move ahead with this action.
Write to: Dr. Claire Anderson, Conference Chair 21st International Congress on Education of the Deaf Suite 101 – 1444 Alberni Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6G 2Z7 Canada
Or e-mail: iced2010@advanced-group.com Please also send a copy of the letter to: Wayne Sinclair or Monte Hardy #106-2844-273rd Street Aldergrove, British Columbia V4W 3S6 Canada
ENS-WFD court case started in Rome on 22nd of September 2009
The first court hearing in the lawsuit filed against the World Federation of the Deaf by the Italian Deaf Association Ente nationale per la protezione e l’assistenza dei sordi (ENS) took place on Tuesday, 22nd of September in Rome, Italy.
In this short court hearing the judge decided that he will only consider the question of jurisdiction of the Court of Rome which means that all substance matters that ENS refers to in its writ of summons won’t be measured.
The next court hearing is scheduled for 19th of January 2010 where both parties will present a summary of their case exclusively with regard the jurisdiction.
Per request of ENS, both parties of the case met in ENS headquarters after the court hearing and negotiated over some of the disputed questions. WFD Board will make a formal proposal to settle the case to ENS shortly, in the hope of reaching a final, peaceful, solution before the January 2010 court hearing.
News from Venezuela
The first National Encounter of Deaf People of the Venezuelan Deaf Federation and ally organizations was held in the city of Caracas on 15-17 of July 2009. The event had as primary objective to discuss the progress on the topic of Deaf and/or People with Auditive Disability both at national level and worldwide.
A variety of orators and participants of both national and global origins were present, among them, President of the World Federation of the Deaf, Markku Jokinen, Vice-President of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI), Juan Druetta, and President of the European Union of the Deaf Youth (EUDY) Jenny Nilsson. Meetings where also different government authorities dedicated to disability issues participated, took place in the framework of the event. The President of the WFD referred in a positive way to Venezuela: “I have been in 65 countries around the world and I can say that Venezuela has significant achievements in the area of disability(…) Sign language for example is acknowledged legally, it is law based now, and television channels transmit information using sign language, which allows Deaf to participate and be involved in the national and international daily life”, said Jokinen.
On the other hand the Venezuelan Deaf Federation through its board of directors expressed the importance of this activity aligned with a revolution that advances at gigantic steps in matter of social, labour and educational inclusion. A representative of the Venezuelan Deaf Federation communicated: “The Federation works with all disability institutions and specially affiliated associations in order to achieve recognition of sign language and our constitutional rights, so all deaf people or with a auditive disability will have the place that corresponds to them as Venezuelans and as human beings with full potential equal to any other person”.
It was also emphasized that this activity is part of the various strategies and reforms inside the national and international social and political structure reforms of FEVENSOR and it represents an important step in inclusion and construction of a new mother land were all Venezuelans have equal conditions.
WFD President Markku Jokinen attended the National Encounter of Deaf People in Caracas, Venezuela.
ESPAÑOL
Fevensor - Caracas, 17 Julio 2009.
Del 15 al 17 de Julio se realizó el Primer Encuentro Nacional de Personas Sordas en la ciudad de Caracas, organizado por la Federación Venezolana de Sordos (Fevensor) y organizaciones afiliadas, el mismo tuvo como objetivo primordial discutir los avances en materia de Personas Sordas y/o Discapacidad Auditiva en el país y a nivel mundial.
La actividad contó con ponentes y personalidades de la realidad nacional y mundial, entre los que destacan el Presidente de la Federación Mundial de Sordos, Markku Jokinen, el Presidente de la Federación Mundial de Interpretes (WASLI), Juan Druetta, la presidenta de la Unión Europea de Jovenes Sordos (Eudy), Jenny Nilsson, quienes se reunieron con distintas autoridades gubernamentales en materia de discapacidad del país proponiendo mejoras en las políticas y avances en la materia.
El Presidente de la Federación Mundial de Sordos se refirió a Venezuela de manera muy positiva: "He estado en 65 países del mundo y puedo decir que en Venezuela se han alcanzado logros significativos en materia de discapacidad (...) la lengua se señas, por ejemplo, es reconocida jurídicamente ya que tiene carácter de Ley y los canales de televisión transmiten información utilizando este sistema de lenguaje, lo cual permite a este sector de la población participar e involucrarse en el contexto cotidiano nacional e internacional", indicó Jokinen.
Por otra parte, la Federación Venezolana de Sordos, La junta directiva, destacó la importancia de esta actividad en el marco de una revolución que avanza a pasos agigantados en materia de inclusión social, laboral y educativa. Señaló que "Desde la Federación trabajamos con todas las instituciones de discapacidad, especialmente con las asociaciones afiliadas, que continuaremos luchado por el reconocimiento de la Lengua de Señas y nuestros derechos constitucionales, haciendo para que todas las Personas Sordas o con Discapacidad Auditiva tengan el sitial que les corresponde como venezolanos y como seres humanos llenos de potencialidades, equiparables a las de cualquier persona convencional".
Asimismo resaltó que esta actividad, sin duda alguna, forma parte de una de las varias estrategias y reformas dentro de la estructura socio política nacional e internacional de la FEVENSOR y representa un paso importante en materia de inclusión y construcción de una patria nueva donde todas y todos los venezolanos ocupen un espacio en igualdad de condiciones.
First court hearing takes place on 22 September 2009 in Rome in the lawsuit, ENS against WFD
International Leaders Learn Grassroots Advocacy
Namiraa Baljinnyam, an educator from Mongolia, has an ambitious goal: to bring linguistic freedom to the deaf children of her country. Abaye Tesfaye, who teaches in Ethiopia, has similar aspirations for his country: to unify the deaf community to advocate for its rights.
From June 28 to July 4, Baljinnyam, Tesfaye, and 12 other deaf and hard of hearing participants from around the world took a leap toward achieving their dreams. This group of community leaders, organization officers, and advocacy benefactors from Albania, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Honduras, and the United States gathered on Kendall Green for a grassroots advocacy leadership training led by the Gallaudet Leadership Institute, a unit within the College of Professional Studies and Outreach (CPSO). They came away with new tools and a network of fellow leaders—two key necessities for achieving their objectives.
“They need to take control of their destiny,” said Dr. Madan Vasishta, a faculty member in the Department of Administration and Supervision and facilitator for the program, to be successful. “To this end, they must know their rights and responsibilities. They should also feel empowered and understand that they have the ability to achieve their goals.”
With so much to cover, the program followed a busy schedule. The days and evenings included presentations by deaf leaders on advocacy, deaf rights, and empowerment. (A list of international presenters and program supporters appears at the end of this article.) Multiple sessions were devoted to information sharing by the participants—each prepared a half-hour presentation on the needs of the deaf communities in his or her home country.
“These presentations really helped us all. We learned that while some problems were specific to a country, most were common,” said Vasishta. The recurring themes included challenges around education, employment, communication, and human rights.
No training held in Washington, D.C. would be complete without sightseeing, and the participants had a chance to partake in the activity at a peak time. The group visited the Smithsonian museums, memorials on the National Mall, the White House, and had a tour of the Gallaudet campus and Viable Communications, a successful local company owned by a Gallaudet alumnus.
The program concluded with each participant crafting an action plan for a project they would like to complete back home.
The participants saw the benefits of the program early on. “I’ve enjoyed learning about advocacy and developing coalitions,” said Tesfaye on the fourth day. He added that another great benefit of the program was learning more about the work of the World Federation of the Deaf, which partnered with Gallaudet to promote the program.
Although Tesfaye is the director of his country’s deaf association, he explained, he felt he was not learning much at home. He is considering working with a newly-established deaf program at a university in his country when he returns. He believes the knowledge gained at Gallaudet will allow him to move forward as no other experience has.
Baljinnyam, who is enrolled in Gallaudet’s English Language Institute and plans to earn a Ph.D. in education, also places a high value on the training experience. “If I want to help students, I need to educate myself,” she said. Baljinnyam is focused on equality for her country’s deaf students. “I want to work on helping children develop their native language. There is only one deaf school in Mongolia and the children do not have much chance to develop their language skills,” she explained. A firm grasp of language is important, she said, if students are to finish high school and go on to college and then to rewarding careers. Not many students see that kind of future for themselves, but Baljinnyam hopes her leadership can change that.
Each of the participants brought a similar ambition. Although not every participant had a polished vision of his or her leadership role at the beginning of the sessions, it soon became clear that they would return with greater focus on their goals and the energy to pursue them. Indeed, creating an action plan and giving each other feedback was an integral part of the training.
“When I get home, I’m not going to sit back,” Tesfaye said. “I want to teach deaf people and encourage them to come together.”
Grassroots Advocacy Training presenters and supporters:
Claudia Gordon, Esq. (presentation: “Deaf Rights and Empowerment: Let Deaf People Be Heard”), an attorney originally from Jamaica, is a senior policy advisor with the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within the Department of Homeland Security. She is active in numerous disability-oriented organizations, boards, and advisory groups, and frequently presents on disability policy issues.
Dr. Simon Guteng (presentation: “Disability Policy Development Process in the Plateau State of Nigeria”) is actively involved in disability advocacy. He has served in the capacity of special assistant to the executive governor of Plateau State of Nigeria on disability and policy matters, and pioneered a disability law in Plateau State. Dr. Guteng was instrumental in organizing the training and providing sponsorship from the Gallaudet Leadership Institute and Professional Studies division of CPSO, which he directs. Guteng is also an associate professor of education at Gallaudet.
Dr. Joseph Innes is dean of the College of Professional Studies and Outreach, and provided overall support for the program.
Gary Malkowski (presentation: “Advocacy in Canada”), born and raised in Canada, was the first elected deaf politician in the world, serving as minister of provincial parliament for the York East region of Ontario. He has worked provincially and nationally on issues of human rights, anti-discrimination, and deaf and disability advocacy. Malkowsi is currently special advisor to the president for public affairs at The Canadian Hearing Society.
Dr. Joseph Murray (presentation: “Leadership in the International Organizations Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing People”) spent much of his life in the U.S., but lived for ten years in Norway and other Western European countries. Dr. Murray’s research focuses on transnationalism, exploring how extra-national ideas shape locally-lived lives. He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies.
Kevin Nolan (workshops on consumer, family and community advocacy), from the United States, has worked in the field of advocacy and leadership on the state, national, and international levels. He is outreach and support services coordinator for Children’s Hospital Boston, chair of the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s Statewide Advisory Committee, and vice-president of the board of D.E.A.F., Inc.
Dr. Madan Vasishta (“United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities /Advocacy”), a native of India, spent more than 30 years as an administrator at schools for deaf students and has published widely on deaf education and his experience growing up deaf in Delhi. Vasishta now divides his time between the U.S. and his home country, working as a writer, educator, and consultant.
Sixth National Congress of the Deaf Community in Colombia
‘Past – Present – Future’ Sixth National Congress of the Deaf Community in Colombia Sixth Meeting of Deaf Latin Americans First Meeting of Latin American Sign Language Interpreters Bogota, Colombia 7 – 10 July 2009
The National Federation of the Deaf of Colombia (FENASCOL) hosted the Sixth National Congress of the Deaf Community in Colombia and arranged the 6th meeting for Deaf delegates from Latin America. Both events were valuable where participants were able to share new knowledge and experiences about improving human rights and the quality of life of Deaf people in Latin America. FENASCOL also organised the first ever meeting for Sign Language Interpreters from Latin America to develop collaboration between the Deaf Associations and the Interpreters Associations in Latin America. This meeting is another example of positive steps being taken by countries in line with the Joint Statement signed by both the World Federation of the Deaf and the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters in Madrid, Spain in 2007. The Joint Statement is available on www.wasli.org/WFD_Statement.htm
WFD President Markku Jokinen and WFD Board member, Mr Colin Allen were invited by FENASCOL to participate in the Congress and meetings of Deaf people and Sign Language Interpreters in Latin America. WFD President Jokinen gave a presentation on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities from the point of view of Deaf peoples human rights. The presentation made people acutely aware of their own human rights. Mr Allen gave a keynote presentation on ‘Deaf People and Human Rights’ where he stated that the basic factors for Human Rights of Deaf people are Sign Language Rights, Deaf Education, access to Sign Language Interpreters and Accessibility. During these events and in numerous discussions and meetings WFD’s work was acknowledged by more than 430 participants from 19 countries of Latin America.
Mr Juan Carlos Druetta, Vice President of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters, and Mr Marco Nardi, European Representative (WASLI) held a lecture on the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters and its activities. Mr Druetta also gave a presentation on his experience as Deaf Sign Language Interpreter. Both presentations were well received by the audience.
At the Opening Ceremony of the conference, a representative for the Colombian President presented a merit award: “Merito de Gracias a la Democracia de Nombre de Caballero para FENASCOL” to FENASCOL for its remarkable work and input in the improvement of human rights of Deaf Colombians.
The Conference had its daily theme for each of the four days of the conference. The themes were Human Rights for Deaf People, Inclusive Development, Sign Language Interpreters in Latin America and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Each afternoon there were three breakaway sessions for Deaf delegates from Latin America, Deaf Colombian delegates and Sign Language Interpreters. The groups debated the morning’s issues in depth and shared their viewpoints.
WFD Regional Secretariat Directors, Mr Alexeis Vergara Estibill and Mr Gerardo E. Carrillo Naranjo were actively involved in these events. Each regional secretariat held meetings with the delegates from WFD’s Ordinary Members from Latin America. Both Mr Jokinen and Mr Allen also had several meetings with delegates of WFD Ordinary Members.
One of the highlights of the week was a meeting of Deaf women from Latin America. It was led by Ms Martha Osorno Posada, Colombia and Ms Miriam Meneses, Cuba. They both encouraged Deaf women to establish a Working Group for Deaf Women in Latin America, which was strongly supported by all of Deaf female participants in Latin America, the WFD Regional Secretariat Directors and WFD representatives. The participants agreed to arrange a meeting for Deaf Women in Mexico in May 2010. Photos of the conference are available here.
WFD Board Member at Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference
WFD Board Member at Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference 21st Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf Conference Chicago, Il, USA 30 June – 4 July, 2009
WFD’s philosophy is one of equality, human rights and respect for all people, regardless of race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual preference, age and all other differences. WFD supports and promotes in its work the many United Nations conventions on human rights, with a focus on Deaf people who use sign language, and their friends and families. WFD works with the aim of solidarity and unity, equality and respect of diversity to make the world a better place. The Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD) is an organisation for Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender which was formed in 1977 to encourage and promote the educational, economical, social welfare, and fellowship, rights and advocate in the interest of the Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community.
It was the first time that WFD sent a representative to this conference. Mr Colin Allen as WFD representative attended RAD’s 21st Conference in Chicago, Illinois, USA where he was invited as one of the keynote presenters at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the RAD Conference. Mr Allen joined with 365 participants from approximately 12 countries to celebrate the conference theme ‘Our Vision, Our Kind of Life’.
The RAD Conference offered 14 workshops including two workshops presented by Mr Allen, one on a recent report on ‘Deaf People and Human Rights’ and the other on ‘Deaf People’s perspective on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).’ Both workshops were well attended with interested participants who are now seriously considering getting involved with WFD, particularly attending the upcoming WFD Congress in South Africa. Also many conference participants strongly supported the idea of starting a new official international conference for Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender to be scheduled before or after the WFD Congress in South Africa. This conference also organised 10 different Special Interest Groups which included Deaf Youth, Deaf Lesbian, Deaf Leather, Deaf Senior Citizens, Deaf Transgender, Deaf Gay Parents to mention a few.
Mr Allen joined by co- keynote presenter, Ms Jennifer Ann Cook ‘Jac’ from San Francisco, USA, both gave a powerful message for every member of the Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community to reclaim their human rights at any place within the Deaf Community around the world.
Both Ms Cook and Mr Allen concluded with a conference affirmation for all Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender to C-A-R-E for each other within their communities which stands for:-
Community - Deaf Affection Respect Equality
WFD wishes to congratulate Windy City Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf for hosting an excellent conference for the Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community globally.
Disability Rights Fund Releases Second 2009 Request for Proposals, Extending Another Year of Grantmaking to Existing Target Countries and Opening Grantmaking to the Pacific
July 15, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Diana Samarasan, Director Telephone: 617-261-4593 Email: dsamarasan@disabilityrightsfund.org
BOSTON, MA – The Disability Rights Fund (DRF)—a groundbreaking grantmaking collaborative supporting the human rights of people with disabilities—today announced the second round of its 2009 grantmaking, “Raising Our Voice.” This round opens another year of possible funding to disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs) in: Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru; Ghana, Namibia, Uganda; and Bangladesh and adds an additional region to the Fund’s reach – the Pacific. In the Pacific, 14 island countries are targeted: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
The broad objective of the Fund —which was officially launched in March 2008—is to empower DPOs in the developing world and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union to participate in ratification, implementation and monitoring of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD).
In 2008, the Fund made one-year grants to 33 organizations in 7 countries (Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru; Ghana, Namibia, Uganda; Bangladesh), totaling USD 800,000. Grants ranged from USD 5000 - 50,000 and supported CRPD awareness-raising, strengthening coalitions and networks, and rights advocacy. In the second round of 2009 grantmaking, applicant organizations may apply within one of two categories: a) single organizations or partnerships and b) national DPO coalitions. Grants to single organizations will range from USD 5,000 to 30,000 and support efforts to build voice and visibility and to develop rights-based advocacy and monitoring on the CRPD. Grants to national DPO coalitions will range from USD 30,000 to 70,000 and will support advocacy toward ratification of the CRPD, passage of specific legislation to accord with the CRPD, or the production of shadow reports.
Interested organizations are urged to review the full eligibility criteria and application details posted at the Fund’s website, http://www.disabilityrightsfund.org/grant.html. Any questions on the proposal process should be directed to info@disabilityrightsfund.org by August 15. The deadline for applications is September 15, 2009.
DRF’s donors include the Aepoch Fund, the American Jewish World Service, an anonymous founding donor, the Australian Government’s International Development Assistance Agency – AusAID, the Open Society Institute, The Sigrid Rausing Trust, and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development.
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The Survey Results on the Status of the National Associations of the Deaf
It is with great pleasure that the WFD Survey Project Working Group published this survey report of the WFD Ordinary Members. This report is not only a summary of the data collected from 76 WFD Ordinary Members but also gave a clear picture of the situation within each of the National Associations of the Deaf who have returned the completed questionnaire.
The report is intended to be used to develop democratic and equal opportunities for Deaf people within the national organisation of all WFD Ordinary Members. The main objective was to receive comprehensive insight into the situation of the National Association of the Deaf by gathering vital information focused on the areas of:
• Background of the National Association of the Deaf • Purposes and aims of the National Association of the Deaf • Youth section of the National Association of the Deaf • Special interest groups of the National Association of the Deaf • Information on the financial status of the National Association of the Deaf • General statistics of Deaf population
It was not intended to be a completed in-depth analysis of the situation of each National Association of the Deaf. The survey questionnaires were disseminated through both postal and electronic mail to all 128 Ordinary Members during January 2007 and the report was finalised during December 2008. The WFD Board have formally adopted the report at WFD’s 92nd Board Meeting in Wellington, New Zealand.
WFD wishes to express its warm gratitude to 76 WFD Ordinary Members which have supplied the information on their organisational background. WFD wishes to recognise the Survey Project Working Group for their dedicated time, voluntary, to prepare the Survey Report under the chairperson, Mr Colin Allen (Australia) with the assistance from Mr Tomas Hedberg (Sweden), Ms Martha Lucia Osorno Posada (Colombia), and Mr Knud Søndergaard (Denmark). The Working Group also appreciated the enormous support from Ms Keiko Sagara of Tokyo, Japan who was a voluntary staff member at the WFD General Secretariat. Also Ms Phillipa Sandholm, WFD Administrative Assistant who has supplied the information that is available from the WFD General Secretariat Office and Mr Mark Wheatley for editing the English in the report.
ITALIAN DEAF ASSOCIATION FILES A COMPLAINT AGAINST WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF
Italian Association of the Deaf, Ente nazionale per la protezione e l’assistenza dei sordi (ENS), has filed a lawsuit against the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). ENS demands invalidation of the resolutions adopted in WFD’s General Assembly in 2007 in Madrid and claims further that all decisions taken since that date should be declared invalid. ENS is also insisting that WFD’s old statutes, in force until Madrid General Assembly, should be brought into force and an extraordinary General Assembly called. By this lawsuit ENS is opposing those statutes amendments that were approved in the General Assembly which enabled WFD to receive legislative status for the first time in its history.
The Board of the World Federation of the Deaf regrets ENS’s decision to take up legal actions against WFD. WFD does not approve demands presented by the ENS to invalidate the XVII General Assembly and continues to stand behind the resolutions adopted by its Ordinary Members in Madrid through a democratic process that respected and followed the statutes of the World Federation of the Deaf. General Assembly is a decision-making body of the World Federation of the Deaf currently comprising of 130 Ordinary Members.
The case is filed in the Court of Rome and the court hearing will be in September 2009. Board of the World Federation of the Deaf takes this lawsuit very seriously and hopes that agreement for settlement can be found without delay, which would also minimize the financial impact it inevitably has on activities run by WFD.
If you wish to support World Federation of the Deaf, please send any donation to:
World Federation of the Deaf Bank: OP-Pohjola Group Helsinki, Finland Account no: 578007-2237861 Swift Address: OKOY FI HH International Bank Account Number (IBAN): FI 74 5780 0720 2378 61
Special Announcement: LIVE-Filming broadcast of the Swiss Federation of the Deaf General Assembly (pdf)
The Swiss Federation of the Deaf will have thier General Assembly LIVE Web-TV via Internet on 16 May, 2009. Information is available on this PDF file.
WFD EEMARS Meeting in Minsk
WFD EEMARS Meeting in Minsk
On 17 – 20 February 2009 in Minsk (Belarus) there has passed the next meeting of the WFD EEMARS.
WFD President, Markku Jokinen, VOG President Valery Rukhledev, and leaders of the National Deaf Associations from countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Tajikistan have taken part in work of the WFD EEMARS.
After report of V. Rukhledev, Regional Director EEMARS, participants of Meeting have highly appreciated the contribution of All-Russian Society of the Deaf (VOG) to process of adjustment of friendly relations between National Deaf Associations.
Members of the WFD EEMARS have unanimously selected V. Rukhledev on position of Regional Director. By V. Rukhledev’ recommendations Dmitry Rebrov (staff of Foreign Affairs Department of VOG) has been elected as the Regional Secretary.
At plenary sessions participants discussed problems of signing and ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in their countries, and also Deaf Education issues, vocational training and employment of the deaf people, activity of the organisations in a global economic crisis, an access problem to the information.
Employees of the Moscow company "Express Telekom" had been showed means of video telecommunication which in Russia already establish in Regional Branches of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf and the Centers of social protection of the population.
Following the results of a working meeting WFD EEMARS Members have accepted Appeals to Presidents of the countries.
On behalf the WFD - Mr. Jokinen and on behalf the WFD EEMARS - Mr. Rukhledev have signed Appeals.
WFD President and Regional Secretariat Members have visited Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus where cadets study Sign language. Training of cadets of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Sign language is one of directions of realisation of the Government program of Belarus on creation non-barrier environments of ability to live for Persons with Disabilities for 2007-2010.
International guests have visited also the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Belarus where open meeting with the Deputy Minister Mrs. Valentina Koroleva has taken place. In Belarus are 510.000 persons with Disabilities, from them - 26,500 children. Operate various forms of the state support; work on preparation for signing of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities is conducted.
M. Jokinen has given the information on cooperation the WFD with the United Nations, about value of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities for deaf persons.
Later Mr. Saputo has shown to foreign colleagues Deaf Association Factory "Vitok" in Minsk. Factory is one of the largest in Deaf Association system - on it hundreds deaf persons work - it lets out springs for mechanisms and various kinds of mechanics.
In the Republican Palace of Deaf Culture named N. Sharko visitors were waited by a warm meeting with members of Byelorussian Society of the Deaf, for guests have shown new rock opera "Yunona and Avos’".
Participants of the international meeting were convinced that social protection of the Deaf is in Byelorussia at high level, and the Byelorussian Society of the Deaf actively develops partner relations with the government.
Summing up the international meeting, the WFD President has given an appreciation to the done work, having underlined that WFD EEMARS is the active and efficient - in it he sees a special merit of EEMARS Director Valery Rukhledev.
Mr. Jokinen has thanked organisers and participants of a meeting for fruitful work and has expressed conviction that the meeting has defined prospects of the further cooperation.
Mr Jokinen in UN Forum on Minority Issues: "Sign language users are part of the linguistic minorities too"
Dear Madame Chair and Ms Gay McDougall, Independent Expert on Minority Issues,
So far only spoken language minorities have been discussed here in the first Forum. Therefore I would like to bring up the issue of sign languages since they constitute at least half of the languages of the world and form an important part of the global cultural and linguistic diversity.
As the President of the World Federation of the Deaf, an umbrella organisation for 130 national deaf associations all around the world, I am here today representing over 70 million deaf people. Deaf people face exactly the same problems that have been discussed today and yesterday during this forum, as hearing linguistic and cultural minorities. Themes mentioned in the draft recommendations on minorities and the right to education applies to us also. Sign language users’ linguistic rights which entail the right to use their own language are not carried out and in fact sign language users suffer linguistic genocide every day.
Deaf sign language users consider themselves mainly a cultural and linguistic minority, rather than merely a group of persons with disabilities. Sign language users also include for instance hearing children with deaf parents, in other words children who have grown up with sign language as their mother tongue. They all have right to become bi- or multilingual citizens through quality education using bi- or multilingual and multicultural approaches.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) mentions the rights of sign language users in many articles. It defines clearly that languages include both spoken and signed languages (Article 2 Definitions). It affirms that states must recognise and promote deaf culture and linguistic and cultural identity of sign language users as well as their right to receive education in their own language. It also affirms that the states must recognise and promote the use of sign languages (Article 21 Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information).
Article 24 of the CRPD states, that States Parties shall facilitate the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community. In addition, article 30 mentions that 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.
According to a recent survey on the Human Rights of Deaf people1 deaf children rarely enjoy the opportunity to go to school where sign language is the principal mode of communication. Overall, the dominant educational communication method is Oral Education where spoken language is considered to be the basis for standard social and academic communication instead of sign language. This in turn leads to a low level of literacy and a weak social, economic and political status of deaf people. Only in 19 per cent of the countries that participated in the survey2 deaf students have, at least in theory, the possibility to attend classes at the university level thanks to interpreting services.
I strongly believe that this Forum and the Independent Expert on Minority Issues should include the situation of sign language users in all its work as well as take our rights and needs into consideration when working on the recommendations discussed here today.
Moreover, it is equally imperative to keep in mind all the other members of minorities with disabilities, who also live in a difficult situation. They all also have the right to receive quality education through use of Braille, alternative script, augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication in their own minority languages and majority languages used in their societies.
Markku Jokinen President World Federation of the Deaf
1 Survey was conducted in the framework of a project called: Global Education Pre-Planning project on the Human Rights of Deaf people. For more information consult: www.wfdeaf.org. 2 93 national associations of the Deaf replied to this question.
Human Rights Council’s Forum on Minority Issues 15 and 16 December 2008, Geneva, Palais des Nations
Mr. Markku Jokinen, president of the WFD and Ms. Jaana Keski-Levijoki, president of the Finnish Association of the Deaf were present at the Forum on Minority Issues...(read more)
Net4Voice – New Technologies for voice-converting in barrier-free learning environments
“Net4Voice – New Technologies for voice-converting in barrier-free learning environments”
Three European Universities, and two European high schools are partners in the project Net4Voice which consists of testing voice recognition techniques and methods within three different learning contexts: university, school and adult education classrooms. Speech- recognition (SR) technology can automatically transform a lecturer’s speech into digital text in real-time, by generating an electronic transcription of the lesson to be printed or delivered through different devices and channels. The need to support the learning process with non- traditional technologies derives from the fact that there are needs related to accessibility and effectiveness of learning that are not properly satisfied in the traditional classroom. Traditional face to face education, although extremely important and unique, presents constraints due to physical, temporal and cultural barriers that could hinder access to learning: teaching material is not always easily accessible to users with disabilities in different learning contexts. ICT can be an effective means to raise the quality of educational processes in term of accessibility and effectiveness.
The final objective of the project is to increase the quality of learning opportunities for the whole of society, promoting the adoption of barrier-free learning environments and the development of innovative learning methodologies which utilise SR technologies. Net4Voice aims at defining a clear scheme to assess the impact of SR technologies in education, and at evaluating the impact on key actors involved, such as students and teachers, by particularly focusing on learning settings addressed to people with particular needs.
Press Release: A lot to improve in Deaf people’s Human Rights
Check this article written by Mr. François Grosjean entitled “The Right of the Deaf Child to grow up bilingual”. It is already available in more than 30 language versions.
World Federation of the Deaf represented in the Panel of Experts meeting in Amman, Jordan
World Federation of the Deaf represented in the Panel of Experts meeting in Amman, Jordan (More)
Progess Report of the Global Education
Progess Report of the Global Education pre-planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People (Read PDF)
Mr Jokinen travelled to NY
Mr Jokinen travelled to NY to celebrate the entry into force of the Convention on the right of person with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (Read PDF)
The entry into force of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was
New York in May 12, 2008. The following document is a message from the disability movement to all the parties involved in ratifying, implementing and monitoring of the Convention. It was presented by Ms. Martha Lucia Osorno Posada from the World Federation of the Deaf and Mr. Robert Martin from Inclusion International, as a closing statement of the ceremony. (Read PDF)
Nepal - Former President of Nepal National Federation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NFDH), Raghav Bir Joshi elected to be the member of parliament
It is with wonderful news that the former President of NFDH Mr. Raghav Bir Joshi was elected to be a member of parliament for the Constitutional Assembly meeting for a two-year period, which is the first time in history in Nepal and also for the Asian region that a Deaf person is elected for the parliament. WFD wishes the best of luck for him in advocacy for the human rights of Deaf persons in Nepal.
Hungarian disability CAUCUS launched
On 5th May leading disability rights advocates unanimously decided in favour of setting up a non-hierarchical network of civil society based on solidarity to help the effective implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The long-term goals of the CAUCUS include the drafting of an independent shadow report, the necessary preparations for that task and a mutual learning. As a first concrete activity, the CAUCUS will adopt a joint position in regard to the national level monitoring. The need to develop a shared and effective media strategy was also emphasised in order to communicate the Objectives and Purpose of the Convention towards society at large.
Theme 2008: Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for Al
This year, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day has adopted the theme: “Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for All” to address the special requirements of persons with disabilities.
The World Summit on the Information Society, through the Geneva Plan of Action, urged Member States to address the special requirements of persons with disabilities in their national e-strategies and encouraged the design and production of ICT equipment and services suited to their needs, including adherence to the Universal Design Principle and use of assistive technologies. A further call was made for research and development to facilitate accessibility of ICT for all, including people with disabilities.
The Doha Plan of Action endorsed the Tunis Commitment of building ICT capacity for all, including people with disabilities, through the promotion of universal, ubiquitous, equitable and affordable access to ICT. It encouraged adoption of universal design and assistive technologies to ensure that the benefits are evenly distributed within societies as well as to bridge the digital divide by creating digital opportunities for all and by harnessing the full potential for development offered by state-of-the-art ICT.
Two individuals and one organization received the World Telecommunication and Information Society Award:
New UN stamps will be issued formally at a ceremony on June 6 at 1:00 pm at the Mc Lean Hotel in Washington DC. The stamps will celebrate the recently ratified Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. One of them also shows sign language. Sign language interpreting will be provided. UN Stamp
Deaf and Transsexual men are selected into the Constitution Assembly.
Kathmandu, May 1, 2008 Annapurna Post
Deaf and Transsexual men are selected into the Constitution Assembly.
Nepal Communist Party (UML) chose Deaf and Transsexual men by the PR method to create a new constitution.
UML President, Chandra Dev Joshi on Thursday said, "Raghav Bir Joshi, a Deaf man, and Sunil Babu Pant, past president of Blue Diamond Society will be involved in constitution making".
"Raghav will be the first Deaf member of Parliament in Asia. He has for 25 years worked for the effective rights of Deaf people. He is a sign language user and uses Sign Language interpreters to communicate. It is not a success only for him, but also for the thousands of deaf people".
With Radha Bohara interpreting, he promised, "he will work hard for the rights of Deaf people, physically challenged, and intellectual disabilities in the new constitution."
"Currently hearing people have had their say in legal matters and deaf people voiceless, but now we must include them in the new constitution. I want to thank lawyer Krishna Prasad Bhandari for my selection".
The other new member is Pant, a transsexual representing the 3rd gender. He is happy with the respect given to the 3rd gender by the UML. Pant is also the first parliament member in this CA.
UML selected 5 members as per the tally of votes they received.
WASLI - World Association of Sign Language Interpreters
Above: WASLI Secretary Zane Hema, WASLI President Liz Scott Gibson and new WASLI Vice President Juan Druetta.
At the WASLI 2007 General Membership meeting in Segovia, there were NO nominations for the office of WASLI Vice President. We agreed to leave the responsibility of appointing a Vice President to the WASLI Executive Board. We are pleased to announce that the new WASLI Vice President is Juan Carlos DRUETTA of Argentina. Juan is a Deaf Interpreter and is featured on the introductory video clips on the WASLI website. A full introduction and biography will be included in the WASLI Newsletter. Welcome Juan. Lis Scott Gibson WASLI President
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,
SINOSZ has served both communities for over 100 years to secure social inclusion of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and to advocate for the establishment of education, employment and transportation conditions that promote independent living. Hundreds of thousands of persons have hearing loss in Hungary. Tens of thousands are deaf.
A rich program of events started on Friday 7th of December 2007 at the Hungarian Parliament where the European Union of the Deaf (EUD)/SINOSZ Conference “Independent living – The Road from New York to Budapest” offered explanations on the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It provided an opportunity to reflect on the challenges in utilizing the Convention as a powerful tool for change.
Hungary signed the Convention on 30 March 2007 and ratified both Convention and the Optional Protocol on 20 June. Both instruments guarantee effective protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in every field of life. In addition to that, the Convention acknowledges the recognition of sign language, deaf culture, linguistic and cultural identity, quality education in sign language and sign language interpretation as well as the recognition and promotion of sign language use.
The opening speech by Dr Katalin Szili, the chairwoman of the Hungarian Parliament. “I would not even call it a disability, a problem of living with a disability, since we all have some kind of a disability inside, which does not prevent us from contributing to society as a whole, this is an opportunity for everyone”, said Katalin Szili.
In her forward looking presentation she officialy announced that she will work hard for the official recognition of Hungarian sign language as an independent language in Hungary during the spring 2008 session the Parliament. With the help of the law, public offices will be liable to provide a sign language interpreter for hundreds of thousands of persons with hearing loss and tens of thousands who are fully deaf. This will result in vast improvement of the quality of life and the establishment of all the conditions required for independent living for persons who are hard of hearing or deaf.
“1.4 billion HUF (5 millio 600000 Euros) will be spent on the development of the provincial sign language interpretation services from EU sources in the coming years”, promised Dr Mónika Lamperth at the conference. The minister of social affairs and labour added that further 840 million HUF (3 millio 360000 Euros) will be spent on the training of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing by drawing up special syllabus material and educational programmes to support the engineering, legal or medical training of the deaf.
„Deaf people language and linguistic rights are recognised by the Convention, and it will revolutionise deaf people’s lives in the majority of countries after it has been ratified and implemented in national legistlation,” stated Markku Jokinen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf.
“We rely on Hungary to entirely ratify and apply the UN Convention as well, to recognise Hungarian sign language as a language and to acknowledge the right of the Deaf in Hungary to use sign language and sign language interpretation,” said Dr Ádám Kósa the President of SINOSZ. “We have a right to have access to television programmes through subtitles, too. The aim is to achieve appropriate social awareness about deafness, so that these rights could be recognised in the future,” stressed Dr Ádám Kósa.
“Our greatest problem is that deafness is an invisible disability. The Deaf cope with the same problems as other persons with disabilities, but this wall closing them off the majority of society cannot be seen”, underlined Helga Stevens, member of the Belgian senate. “The communicational barriers of this group of people are very serious. Recognition of the language and the use of sign language interpreters are very important, because this is the way we can share our opinion. We can participate neither in social affairs nor in education without the recognition of the language”, stressed the Helga Stevens politician.
“Persons with disabilities are being marginalized worldwide, therefore, the UN took a very significant step by incorporating the rights of persons with disabilities in a convention. Without this, our rights would go overlooked, so we do hope that these rights will be recognised worldwide through the steps taken by the UN. Hungary has taken a very important step by adopting the convention, but it is also necessary to raise awareness everywhere,” stated the American human rights advocate Janet Lord.
“ I call organisation of persons with disabilities in Hungary to join in a National Disability Caucus with the aim of effectively work together in comping a shadow report on the situation of person with disabilities in Hungary in the light of the convention,” said Gábor Gombos, MDAC who was involved in the development of the UN Convention and knows its social significance.
Signmark, the Finish deaf rap artist surprised the audience by his words “ I want to say all people who are trying achieve their dreams: work hard, be active, be spontaneous and give a time for everything and be patient. One step at a time.” His motto echoed inside everyone present: “without a language or culture, I’m like a bird without wings.”
The Equal Treatment Authority –with Dr Lilla Farkas, attorney as a presiding chair – has undertaken a partnership in the promotion of the implementation of the Convention in Hungary and is teaming up with organizations of persons with disabilities (DPOs).
Among the other speakers were Mark Wheatley (EUD) and Steve Estey (DPI, Canada), as well as other prominent disability experts from Hungary.
The conference was attended by 30 organisations from 16 countries, including intergovernmental representatives and delegates of approximately 40 Hungarian NGOs and hundred members of SINOSZ.
The Conference was broadcasted live on the Internet through the support of commersial television, TV2.
On Saturday, December 8th the SINOSZ MARCH started at 10 am infront of the Parliament building, on the bank of the River Danube between the Chain Bridge and Margaret Bridge, when more than 2000 deaf and hard of hearing persons gathered from all over Hungary, Budapest residents, international friends, activists, and the public at large created a “human-chain” in solidarity with deaf and hard of hearing people around the world to claim our rights to deaf culture, quality education in sign language, subtitels, and recognition of sign language.
Krisztina Mosoni, secretary of the Association in Hajdú-Bihar County, called the live chain a politics-free celebration in her interview for MTI (Hungarian News Agency), which she said was meant to draw people’s and society’s attention to them in order not to be “people with an invisible disability”. She made a statement in sign language and a sign language interpreter, called for the acknowledgement of sign language and its incorporation in the national curriculum. She also urged the acceleration of the inevitably important elimination of communicational barriers on behalf of the other members.
“80-90 percent of TV programmes are subtitled for the Deaf in Western Europe, while this ratio was under 1 percent for a long time in Hungary. Today 2-3 hours of public service programmes are subtitled a day, however, according to SINOSZ we would need much more than that, therefore we set up this public action.” said Dr Ádám Kósa, President of SINOSZ.
“The adoption of sign language law would provide much needed recognition for the 15.000 sign languages user,” said Zsuzsa Habán, the program manager of SINOSZ. Deaf persons should be entitled to have the same chances in their official affairs at the local governments or courts of justice as the Hearing. They should be provided a sign language interpreter at the administrative offices.
It is estimated that of the approximately 650 million persons with disabilities worldwide, 17 million are deaf. Hungary was the second country in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Zsuzsa Habán said that at least 20 countries should sign the Convention so that the UN document establishing the rights of the Deaf could enter into force. This, however, has not happened yet.
SINOSZ works to mobilize all sectors of Hungarian society to support the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in order to establish the conditions necessary for independent living and to win full social inclusion of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.
For more informations and photos please visit the www.sinosz.hu
By Dalma Földes @SINOSZ 2007.
International Deaf day/ International weeks of the Deaf celebrations around the world
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 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!
September 22nd, 2007
WFD encourages the global Deaf community and especially its’ Ordinary Members (OMs), to observe a worldwide International Deaf Awareness Day and International Deaf Awareness Week by celebrating your national sign languages, by educating the general public about sign languages and Deaf people’s linguistic rights and by using this opportunity to gain momentum in ongoing legislative campaigns. Furthermore, WFD hopes that OMs would co-operate with government officials in changing, when needed, national legislation so that the Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons can be ratified (for more info, please see http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/conventioninfo.htm). It is of great importance to draw the attention of politicians, authorities and the general public on Deaf people’s achievements of as well as on the concerns of the Deaf community.
During the same period the Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD) will arrange global rallies on Friday, September 28th, 2007, in support of Sign Language and Deaf children’s right to education.
Meanwhile the American National Association of the Deaf (NAD) will host a "Celebrate ASL"-day on Friday, September 28th, 2007, which also supports the global objectives of WFD, one of which specifically focuses on human rights through sign languages.
On September 29th, 2007, the Mexican Federation of the Deaf is also celebrating International Deaf Awareness Day with a march in Mexico City, highlighting the human rights of the Deaf.
Also, the Irish Deaf Society will organise different events such as ISL Pride March on 22nd September, launch of "Learn ISL Week" and health access publications, which will be attended by the Minister of State, as well as a 3rd annual lecture and arts and culture show.
WFD encourages all other OMs to celebrate International Deaf Awareness Week and International Deaf Awareness Day to raise awareness on sign languages and to promote linguistic rights! Certainly many other OMs will celebrate International Deaf Awareness Day and Week – WFD wishes best success in arranging different events.
“Sign languages are the origin”
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.
Cerezales proposes the creation of a network in solidarity
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.
Deaf Women Have Their Say
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.
The Spanish vice prime minister María Fernández de la Vega, Luis Cañón and Markku Jokinen open the 15th World Congress of the WFD
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."
Education
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.
Cooperation towards development
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.
The long path towards the acknowledgement of Spanish sign language
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."
WFD General Assembly - Madrid, Spain - July 15, 2007
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.
Don Mackay - Breaking Down Barriers. The New United Nations Convention concerning the Rights of Disabled Persons
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 Awarded the WFD Human Rights Prize
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.
Meeting with Mr. Sergey Mironov, Chairman of Council of Federation of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Xenia Morfopoulos, English Interpreter, Vadim Ivanchenko, Head of Department of International Affairs of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf, Valery Rukhledev, President of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf, Sergey Mironov, Chairman of Council of Federation of Federal Assemble (Parliament) of the Russian Federation, Markku Jokinen, President of the WFD, Helga Stevens, President of EUD, Elizabeth Scott-Gibson, President of the WASLI, Thorsten Afflerbach, Council of Europe
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
Press Release - "The Linguistic Rights of the Deaf: State Support, Research and Use of Sign Language"
By All-Russian Society of the Deaf
Location: Moscow, Russia Release date: 22 May 2007
On the International Conference "The Linguistic Rights of the Deaf: State Support, Research and Use of Sign Language" Mr. Markku Jokinen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf and Dr. Liisa Kauppinen, President Emeritus of the World Federation of the Deaf were awarded high awards of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf.
Resolution of the Central Board of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf from 21 May 2007 for an outstanding personal contribution to the decision of problems of social rehabilitation of the Deaf, Merits in the field of the international cooperation and development of partnership between the World Federation of the Deaf and the All-Russian Society of the Deaf, Merits on development of the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Mr. Valery Rukhledev, President of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf decorate with award of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf “For Special Merits» 1st degree to Mr. Markku Jokinen, the WFD President.
The high rank "Honorable Member of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf" for Dr. Liisa Kauppinen, WFD President Emeritus has simultaneously been appropriated. Dr. Kauppinen could not arrive on Conference; this award has accepted Mr. Jokinen. The WFD President Mr. Jokinen has thanked the All-Russian Society of the Deaf for recognition of the international activity of the WFD. All-Russian Society of the Deaf
The First International Forum of the Deaf in Fez, Morocco
By Yerker Andersson
For the first time in the history of North Africa, an international meeting was held in the historical city Fez, northwest of Rabat, November 30 - December 3. About 200 Deaf delegates and professionals working with the Deaf attended this meeting, called the First International Forum of the Deaf. The delegates came from several Arab countries and a few African countries. The presenters, both Deaf and hearing, from France, the Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa and the US offered several subjects, divided into five areas. They were Human Rights for the Deaf, Health and Prevention, Social Participation, Higher Education and Professional Training, and International Cooperation on occupational Opportunities.
The Forum was formally opened by a government official responsible for Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, Rachid Guennouni. After this opening speech, Dr. Yerker Andersson read a greating by Markku Jokinen, President of World Federation of the Deaf.
After Andersson's presentation on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Saudi Arabian, Tunisian and Moroccan delegates described the rights of deaf people in their countries. In the next area, Health and Prevention, at least two physicians from France and Egypt and other health professionals declared their belief that it was more important to focus on the health of deaf children than on any attempt to find new ways to restore hearing. Another physician from Morocco who tried to claim that children with cochlear implants were more integrated than those without cochlear implants faced a long line of young Deaf persons from different countries for protest! The audience raised their waving hands unanimously!
Ms. Francoise Chastel of France reported that Deaf people in the countries in the Mediterranean area agreed to develop a new union. After a short meeting with Andersson, the delegates from the Arab countries agreed to find ways to get united in North Africa. Hopefully, Deaf people in more and more countries would take over the responsibility for their social life. Claude Stout of the US, Rachid Mimoun of France, and Mouncef ben Azzeddinne of Tunisia shared their experiences of the achievements in television, telecommunication and the use of sign language in television programs.
The participation by Deaf leaders and Deaf presenters in discussion after the presentations or at special meetings gave me a clear impression that they were well educated and eager to improve the social life of Deaf people in their countries. Significantly enough, two Deaf persons were asked to serve as moderators at the last minute. They did very well. Their names were Rachid Mimoun of France and Hend Al-Showaier of Saudi Arabia.
We must give Mr. Abdelaziz Arssi of Morocco credit for this successful forum. He also was able to get at least two delegates from each of 35 associations of the deaf in different regions of Morocco.
Deaf students across the globe to benefit from new international centre for sign language and Deaf studies
1st February 2007
A new international centre in deaf studies has been opened at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston, UK. The International Centre for Sign Language and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS) will conduct research to document many global sign languages for the first time, as well as develop taught programmes to provide deaf students in developing countries with the same higher education opportunities as the UK deaf students it will engage with.
In a ceremony to mark the opening of iSLanDS, Vice-President of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Feliciano Sola Limia gave a keynote speech highlighting the Centre’s potential to inform government policy on deaf issues and deaf education in Britain and beyond. The international scope of iSLanDS will enable it to conduct systematic comparisons of the world’s sign languages; most of which have not yet been documented in any detail. This will help the Centre to both gain unique perspectives on regional deaf issues, and to provide Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in Sign Language linguistics which are informed by the variations in communication methods among deaf people in different countries.
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."
Forum for Deaf People in the Balkans
20 December 2006
A forum “Deaf people in the Balkans” was organised in Belgrade, Serbia from 11th to 15th December 2006 for representatives from Balkan countries to discuss findings of a survey made by the Finnish Association of the Deaf and also to identify common concerns that Deaf people face in the region.
The Forum gathered a wide representation from Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey. In addition, many international organisations and other national associations attended the forum as guest lecturers, such as Markku Jokinen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf; Ms Helga Stevens, President of the European Union of the Deaf; Liz Scott Gibson, President of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters; Ms Therese Rollven, Board member of the WFD Youth section; Mr Tomas Hedberg, Sign Language Policy Co-ordinator from the Swedish National Association of the Deaf; Mr Colin Allen, Survey Officer in the Balkan Survey Project and Mrs Jaana Keski-Levijoki, President of the Finnish Association of the Deaf.
The Balkan country representatives met and discussed their issues and established a contact point for Deaf people in the Balkan Region during the Forum. They are now seeking international assistance to implement training aspects on organisational development, sign language interpreters, sign language research work and Deaf education.
NEW HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTION PROTECTS WIDELY DEAF PEOPLE’S RIGHTS
15 December 2006
The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) hails the newly adopted UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for covering widely Deaf people’s rights. There are still serious shortages in the protection of Deaf persons’ rights both in developing and developed countries. The convention will be a significant step forward, especially in the promotion of equal participation as well as in prohibiting discrimination based on disability.
The World Federation of the Deaf regards the most significant achievement for Deaf people the recognition of Deaf people’s linguistic rights. For example, the new convention outlines rights to receive education and access to information in sign language, to have professional sign language interpreting, to accept and facilitate the use of sign languages, and to promote cultural and linguistic identity of the deaf community. In addition, sign languages are defined as languages, more to say, as equal languages together with spoken languages.
Altogether five articles have a direct reference to Deaf people’s rights. In addition to linguistic rights, most of the 50 articles of the convention protect Deaf people of all ages in many aspects of life.
Discrimination based on disability is still a big problem in the world. Most of the Deaf people do not get any education in developing countries and approximately 80 % of the world’s 70 million Deaf people do not have any access to education. Only about 1-2 % of the Deaf get education in sign language. Particularly situation of women and children is weak. Legal development and recognition of sign languages can promote many Deaf people’s equal participation in the society.
WFD hopes that countries ratify the convention and also implement it in their national legislation. WFD wishes that the convention will be translated in different national sign languages soon. In future, WFD will participate in the international monitoring and also supports national monitoring in many ways. It is important that Deaf people are actively engaged to the implementation and monitoring of the convention.
In future, WFD will train its national members and to assist in the implementation of the convention with its members, states and UN’s special organizations. “There is a new time arising for all the world’s Deaf that use sign languages, a time to recognize our equal rights”, says Liisa Kauppinen, WFD’s president emerita, who represented WFD at the General Assembly on Wednesday.
The World Federation of the Deaf has been part of the convention process since the beginning and has participated in all the sessions during five years. Non-governmental organizations as well as disabled people’s organizations have actively participated in the creation of the new human rights treaty. Also the World Federation of the Deaf has been part of the larger coalition in the drafting process called International Disability Caucus.
Links: World Federation of the Deaf: www.wfdeaf.org Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities: http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/
Representatives of the Asian and Pacific countries discussed human rights and sign language interpreting
3-5 December 2006
The WFD Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific (RSA/P) held its "18th WFD RSA/P Representatives Meeting" in Macau from 3 - 5 December, 2006, hosted by the Macau Deaf Association. 27 delegates from 14 countries, and nearly 100 observers attended the meeting. The Meeting was chaired by Director Takeo Ogura and other members of the Management Committee of RSA/P.
This year, the Meeting had 3 major themes for discussion: (1) human rights of the Deaf, (2) labor and employment, (3) sign language interpretation. Country reports from O.M.s, revealed that many countries lacked measures to protect the rights of the Deaf. In many countries, the Deaf are prohibited from acquiring drivers' licenses, and there are few captions or sign language interpretation on TV programs. It was encouraging that many Deaf Associations of our Region are actively lobbying with their governments, holding workshops for awareness-raising, etc. The lack of sign language interpreters seemed to be a common problem in our Region, but quite a number of countries are establishing a training program for interpreters.
This year, for the first time, we were honored to have the presence of WFD President Markku Jokinen. President Jokinen gave a very explicit explanation on the UN Convention for Persons with Disabilities and its relationship to the rights of the Deaf. Throughout the 3-day Meeting, President Jokinen offered a lot of information and valuable comments, based on his extensive experiences.
One of the big themes of this year's Representatives Meeting was "sign language interpretation". Many sign language interpreters of the A/P Region attended the Meeting as observers, and on the second day, a Workshop for Sign Language Interpreters was held as a parallel session. This was probably the first international conference of sign language interpreters in the Asia/Pacific Region. Ms. Emiko Ichikawa, the Asia Representative of WASLI offered information on the establishment and latest updates on WASLI.
The Japanese Federation of the Deaf hosted the 3rd WFD RSA/P Deaf Youth Camp October 31 to November 5, 2006, in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, attended by 41 persons from 14 different countries. The members of the Youth Section of JFD presented an enjoyable report of the Camp. The Youth Section of JFD also expressed a strong desire to establish a WFD RSA/P Youth Section for networking of Deaf youth in the Region.
This year, 19th WFD RSA/P Representatives Meeting will be held in Madrid, Spain, concurrently with the WFD World Congress. It was agreed that the 20th Meeting would be held in Nepal, and the 21st Meeting in Singapore. The 4th WFD RSA/P Deaf Youth Camp will be held in 2008, hosted by the Indonesian Association for the Welfare of the Deaf.
Landmark federal court decision for Deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing Canadians
12 August 2006
On Friday, August 12, 2006, the Federal Court of Canada released a decision that has significant implications for access of deaf, deafened, deaf-blind and hard of hearing Canadians to the federal government. The Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD) and four other Deaf Canadians hired Deaf lawyer Scott Simser to take the federal government to court over failures to provide meaningful access to Deaf Canadians who were invited to participate in government decision-making.
“As Canadians, deaf persons are entitled to be full participants in the democratic process and functioning of government,” states the Honourable Mr. Justice Mosley in his written judgment. “It is fundamental to an inclusive society that those with disabilities be accommodated when interacting with the institutions of government. The nature of the interests affected is central to the dignity of deaf persons. If they cannot participate in government surveys or interact with government officials they are not able to fully participate in Canadian life.”
The court issued three declarations:
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.
"This is vindication for the equality of Deaf people," proclaimed Sheila Carlin, President of CAD which represents 300,000 Deaf people. "The Federal Court has said unequivocally that we are entitled to equal treatment. Now we want to see all levels of government live up to that truth."
WFD congratulates the Canadian Deaf and hard of hearing community for this great achievement!
Source: Press release (Canadian Association of the Deaf, www.cad.ca)
FORMER WFD GENERAL SECRETARY DR MAGAROTTO DIES
24 August 2006
Dr. Cesare Magarotto passed away on August 24, 2006 at the age of 89. Dr. Magarotto was one of the founders of World Federation of the Deaf and its first General Secretary (1951-1987).
Trained as a lawyer, Dr. Magarotto took over the management of the Italian federation of the Deaf, known as ENS. His father, Antonio Magarotto, was one of the ENS founders. The ENS president, Vittorio Ieralla, and Dr. Magarotto successfully convinced the Italian government to support their efforts to establish a WFD General Secretariat in Rome, in 1951. With continued support from the Italian government and later with the ENS, the WFD General Secretariat was able to establish informative and advocacy networks, with national federations of the Deaf around the world. Decades later, the WFD General Secretariat relocated to Finland, with support from the Finnish government and the Finnish federation of the Deaf.
Dr. Magarotto was editor of The Voice of Silence which later was replaced by the WFD-managed WFD News.
In addition to his fluency in spoken Spanish and English, Dr. Magarotto was able to communicate with Deaf people in both Italian Sign Language and International Sign. He could also interpret for Deaf people at national and international meetings with government officials.
Dr. Magarotto was the last surviving founder who had observed the growth of WFD from 1951 to 2006.
Yerker Andersson Former President of the World Federation of the Deaf
STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT
The Board and all of the staff of the World Federation of the Deaf extend their most sincere condolences to Dr. Magarotto’s family. Dr Magarotto made an extensive career at the World Federation of the Deaf. He had a great role in building and strengthening the work of the WFD worldwide. We also join Deaf people in Italy to express our gratitude for their faithful and loyal support of his fight for human rights.
Markku Jokinen President World Federation of the Deaf
Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
15th August 2006
The official WFD representatives at the 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting of the United Nations on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities are WFD President Markku Jokinen (Finland), WFD President Emeritus Liisa Kauppinen (Finland), and WFD Board Member Colin Allen (Australia). This meeting, at the United Nations in New York City , 12-25 August 2006, is considered to be the last session to finalise the proposed Convention, begun in and in progress since 2001.
Deaf representatives are also present from other countries: (NGO Representative), (NGO Representative), (NGO Representative), (Government Representative), (Government Representative), (Government Representative) and (Government Representative). They are working with WFD to support the position on human rights for the global Deaf community.
WFD President Jokinen wishes to share the daily bulletin news which is supplied by the International Disability Caucus (IDC) with the members of the World Federation of the Deaf: WFD will also provide daily highlights along with the IDC updates. You can also access the DPI (http://v1.dpi.org/lang-en/resources/topics_detail?page=453) and Rehabilitation International (http://www.riglobal.org/un/index.html) websites for updates.
International Disability Caucus News Page for 14th August:
THE IDC CALLS FOR A TREATY BODY!
Governments, together with the International Disability Caucus (IDC), have been working toward a Disability Rights Convention for the past four years in response to the broad recognition that disability has not been properly understood and addressed as a human rights issue. Government must now take the final step to ensure that the Convention has an effective treaty monitoring body. Only with such a body can the Convention be properly monitored and implemented, thereby upholding the commitment of governments to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.
International Disability Caucus News Page for 15th August morning session:
Review of the previous day (15th August 2006)
The IDC was extremely pleased to see the overwhelming support for a treaty body.
For the IDC there is no alternative and good reasons for our position were given by many. Moreover, the arguments provided against were well addressed by Government delegates as well as the IDC. The facilitator’s text includes innovative proposals intended to address the shortcomings of the current system as well as avoids any potential duplication.
The IDC therefore urges the very few countries that oppose this to withdrawal their opposition and join the consensus so that the structured informals can focus on the details of how the treaty body is composed and how it should function.
Specifically, the IDC reminds governments that:
The composition of the treaty body must include a majority of persons with disabilities
It is essential that the persons with disabilities are experts in the field covered by the Convention and the body is composed of diverse disability experience
Representative organizations of persons with disabilities and other members of civil society must be included in all aspects of the reporting process: preparation, consideration and follow up
WFD Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations - 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting
17th 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.
2 Australia Representatives
1 Chile Representative
1 Colombia Representative
2 Finland Representatives
2 Italy Representatives
2 Japan Representatives
1 Qatar Representative
1 Russia Representative
1 South Africa Representative
1 South Korea Representative
1 Venezuela Representative
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;
Please note: In this article sign language is mentioned in two places: under the definition of “communication” and under the definition of “language”. These definitions are still being drafted, but sign language should be included in this article.
Article 9, Accessibility
1 (e) To provide forms of live assistance and intermediaries, including guiders, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public.
Article 21, Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information
(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.
Article 24, Education
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. In order to help ensure the realization of the rights, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to employ teachers, including those with disabilities, who are fluent in sign language, Braille, and to train professionals and staff who work at all levels of education. Such training shall incorporate disability awareness and the use of appropriate augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, educational techniques and materials to support persons with disabilities.
Article 30, Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport
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:
Review of the previous day (15th August 2006)
Support model must be the norm for legal capacity
The IDC welcomes the many statements from delegate reflecting their commitment to the support model of legal capacity, and their support for the second alternative in the working text, which must still be improved to reflect the paradigm shift. However this text will require a great deal of effort by persons with disabilities will enjoy the right to self-determination in our own lives.
Ultimately, there is no compromise with an incapacity model. We look forward to working with all available human rights tools and strategies to ensure that the paradigm shift is implemented and monitored effectively.
Women and gender issues
The IDC is pleased with the inclusion of article 6, a separate article on women with disabilities as part of a twin-track approach but there are some key issues that still need to be addressed in order to strengthen the text.
We are also happy with the gender amendments in other articles included in the Chair’s working text.
The text must include an obligation for states to take appropriate measures necessary to eliminate discrimination and ensure the realisation of an equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by women and girls with disabilities.
The right to make one’s own decisions in all areas of life including those related to reproduction are of particular importance to women with disabilities and must be addressed in article 6.
Article 24 Education
After a long debate, the current draft text is something we can work with. However it could be improved.
This article as a whole needs to:
Confirm the right of persons with a disability to an education, and an education of quality.
Confirm that persons with disability should be part of the same education system as all other persons.
Ensure that persons with disabilities receive the support they need, based on their individual needs.
Article 7 Children with disabilities
The IDC strongly welcomes the extent to which children are now identified throughout the text and the inclusion of article 7, a separate article on children with disabilities. There are, however, a limited number of important issues remaining to be addressed.
The retention of article 7 is critical but needs an amendment to paragraph 3 the right of children to express their views, to bring it in line with the standards already established in article 12 of the CRC.
The addition, there are currently two provisions in article 23 of the text that protect the rights of adults with disabilities which need to be explicitly extended to children with disabilities:
The text needs to introduce a clear prohibition on the sterilisation of children with disabilities purely on the basis of their disability
The text needs to clarify that children with disabilities must not be institutionalised solely on the basis of their disability. Any alternative to family care must be only be considered if it is in the child’s best interest
Article 25 Health
It has been discussed whether the phrase “sexual and reproductive health service” could allow for abortion. The IDC does not intend to legislate on any controversial issues, such as abortion or contraception in this Convention. The Convention seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities have the same rights as others. If national legisation does not provide for abortion or contraception for persons with disabilities, then it would not be required for persons with disabilities. These rights are especially denied to women with disabilities, as women with disabilities are often subordinated and less involved in rights concerning their bodies and functions.
International Disability Caucus News Page for 17th August morning session:
Feedback from the previous day (16th August 2006)
Children with disabilities
The IDC welcomes the strong widespread support expressed for the retention of article 7 children with disabilities. We were pleased with Costa Rica’s endorsement of the need for an amendment to paragraph 3 to bring the current text more closely in line with the provisions in the CRC and hope that his proposal will be acceptable to other delegations.
Women and girls with disabilities
The IDC welcomes the confirmation that there will be a separate article on women and girls with disabilities based on the twin-track approach.
We cannot make compromise on inclusive education
The IDC is concerned that the retention of the second bracket undermines the implementation of inclusive education. We cannot compromise on this issue.
There are many examples from both developing and industrial countries of successful inclusive education programmes that show all children with disabilities can take part in the general education system.
Including children with disabilities within general education is the only way states can achieve the Millennium Development Goals for education.
(Note: WFD has stressed importance of paragraphs 3 (b), 3 (c) and 4 in Article 24 Education (see above) stating right of Deaf children to receive education in Sign Language from teachers who are fluent in that language.)
Health
Sexual and reproductive health services continue to be an area where persons with disabilities, in particular women with disabilities, are excluded. Persons with disabilities continue not to be seen as sexual beings and accordingly, are not included in sexual and reproductive health services programming and planning. The IDC accordingly, wants to highlight this as an area of concern and supports the removal of the brackets in article 25 (1) (a).
This is not an attempt to create a new right or interfere with national laws.
21 August 2006 - WFD Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations - 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting
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.
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
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.
IDC strongly objects to the following proposals:
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)
23rd August 2006 - WFD Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations - 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting
23rd August 2006
With the Ad Hoc Committee Meeting concluding this week, WFD President Jokinen considers the Convention is approaching completion. Since 2001, WFD Representative Liisa Kauppinen has attended each of the Ad Hoc Committee Meetings at the United Nations to advocate the Human Rights of Deaf people. Other WFD representatives who have attended a number of these meetings are Markku Jokinen, Carol-lee Aquiline, Martha Lucia Osorno Posada, Roslyn Rosen and Colin Allen. The Convention will possibly be adopted at the forthcoming 61st meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. WFD strongly believes the Convention will be a significant landmark for Deaf people around the world to have their human rights realised. This means inter alia that Deaf people will receive education and services in their sign languages, as well as having their sign languages and cultural identities recognised.
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
25 August 2006 - WFD Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations - 8th Ad Hoc Session Meeting
25th August 2006 (Last Day of the Ad Hoc Session Committee Meeting)
After a long day and very hard work, tonight the Ad Hoc Committee finally adopted the report of the Committee with adopted Articles for the draft Convention. It was very exciting to follow how government delegates finally adopted Article 2 (which includes a definition of language) and Article 24 Education; both are very important to us. Finally, at 19.50 (7:50 PM) all the Articles and the report were adopted at last. It was a truly historical moment for the disability movement and for us Deaf people and our sign languages all over the world. Everyone in the meeting room celebrated this moment with joy. Although this final draft still misses a few important elements, it is still a huge accomplishment for and of the International Disability Alliance, human rights institutions and governments.
The Ad Hoc Committee will activate the following steps on the Convention:
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
The International Disability Caucus will continue to follow up on these steps and WFD will cooperate with IDC. Today the member organisations of the Caucus agreed to continue to work together until the adoption of the Convention. Before Convention is formally adopted, the IDC organisations need to plan with their constituencies what to do after the adoption and what the future of IDC should be.
After adoption there will be a ratification process. At least 20 countries need to ratify the Convention before it can go into effect.
WFD and its member organisations, Deaf people and our partners need to follow and monitor all these steps carefully and start to plan now what we shall do with the new Convention.
WFD would like to thank very warmly all people and especially Deaf government, NGO and WFD delegates who have supported our work to include recognition of sign language, Deaf culture and linguistic and cultural identity, education in sign language, sign language interpreting and acceptance and facilitation the use of sign language into the draft Convention text.
WFD especially thanks President Emerita Dr Liisa Kauppinen who was the main WFD negotiator for this Convention for her very hard and determined work to secure human rights of Deaf people. She attended all 8 AdHoc Committees from the very beginning and also the Working Group in Mexico before the Committee Sessions. Without her significant efforts, WFD could not have managed to include these important issues into the draft Convention.
We all need to follow the next steps with great care and start now to plan how we Deaf people will participate in this very important process. After the adoption of the Convention by the General Assembly and the ratification process, it will become the first Convention ever that recognizes our sign languages and our human rights at the international treaty level.
We will celebrate this historical moment together all over the world!
WFD is very pleased to see many Deaf people who have represented their country governments and non-government organisations (NGO).
The official representatives who have participated in the 8th Session were:
Australia:
Mr Colin Allen – WFD Representative
Mr Alastair McEwin – NGO Representative
Chile:
Ms Pamela Molina – NGO Representative
Colombia:
Ms Martha Lucia Osorno Posada – WFD Representative
Finland:
Mr Markku Jokinen – WFD President
Dr Liisa Kauppinen – WFD Emeritus President
Italy:
Ms Ida Collu – Government Representative
Ms Serena Corazza – Government Representative
Japan:
Mr Fujisaburo Ishino – NGO Representative
Mr Norihiko Nishitaki - NGO Representative
Qatar:
Mr Ali Obaid Al-Sanari – Government Representative
Russia:
Mr Valery Rukhledev – Government Representative
South Africa:
Mr Mxolisi Mvimbi – Government Representative
South Korea:
Ms Min-ja Jung – NGO Representative
The milestone articles that have been adopted by the government representatives are as follows below (especially the bold/underlined words.) However, all the other articles are also important to us as they are to people with disabilities.
Please note however that that the Preamble and Articles have not been checked fully by the Committee Secretariat. The verfied version will appear next Monday.
Preamble (n) Concerned about the difficult conditions faced by persons with disabilities who are subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status.
Article 2 - Definitions
For the purposes of the present Convention:
“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;
“Disability”/“Persons with disabilities” …
“Discrimination on the basis of disability” means any distinction, exclusion or restriction on the basis of disability which has the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. It includes all forms of discrimination, including denial of reasonable accommodation [and direct and indirect discrimination];
“Language” includes spoken and signed languages and other forms of non-spoken languages;
[“National laws of general application” means laws that apply to society as a whole and which do not differentiate in respect of persons with disabilities.
“National laws and procedures of general application” and “national laws, customs and traditions of general application” shall have the same meaning, mutatis mutandis;]
“Reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
“Universal design” and “inclusive design” mean the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. “Universal design” and “inclusive design” shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed.
Article 9 - Accessibility
1. To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas. These measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia:
(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.
2. States Parties shall also take appropriate measures:
(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.
Article 21 - Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise their right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication of their choice,2 including by:
(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.
Article 24 - Education
1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels, and lifelong learning, directed to:
(a) The full development of the human potential and sense of dignity and self worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity;
(b) The development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential;
(c) Enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society.
2. In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure:
(a) That persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities are not excluded from free and compulsory primary and secondary education on the basis of disability;
(b) That persons with disabilities can access inclusive, quality, free primary and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live;
(c) Reasonable accommodation of the individual’s requirements;
(d) That persons with disabilities receive the support required, within the general education system, to facilitate their effective education. [In order to meet adequately] [In those circumstances where the general education system cannot adequately meet] the individual support needs of persons with disabilities, States Parties shall ensure that effective individualized support measures are provided in environments which maximize academic and social development, consistent with the goal of full inclusion.
3. States Parties shall enable persons with disabilities to learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community. To this end, States Parties shall take appropriate measures, including:
(a) Facilitating the learning of Braille, alternative script, augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, orientation and mobility skills, and facilitating peer support and mentoring;
(b) Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community;
(c) Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who are blind, deaf and deaf-blind, 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. In order to help ensure the realization of this right, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to employ teachers, including those with disabilities, who are qualified in sign language and Braille, and to train professionals and staff who work at all levels of education. Such training shall incorporate disability awareness and the use of appropriate augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, educational techniques and materials to support persons with disabilities.
5. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access general tertiary education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities.
Article 30 - Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport
1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to take part on an equal basis with others in cultural life, and shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities:
(a) Enjoy access to cultural materials in accessible formats;
(b) Enjoy access to television programmes, films, theatre and other cultural activities, in accessible formats;
(c) Enjoy access to places for cultural performances or services, such as theatres, museums, cinemas, libraries and tourism services, and, as far as possible, enjoy access to monuments and sites of national cultural importance.
2. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of society.
3. States Parties shall take all appropriate steps, in accordance with international law, to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons with disabilities to cultural materials.
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.
5. With a view to enabling persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States Parties shall take appropriate measures:
(a) To encourage and promote the participation, to the fullest extent possible, of persons with disabilities in mainstream sporting activities at all levels;
(b) To ensure that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to organize, develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities, and to this end, encourage the provision, on an equal basis with others, of appropriate instruction, training and resources;
(c) To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to sporting and recreational and tourism venues;
(d) To ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to participation in play, recreation, and leisure and sporting activities, including those activities in the school system;
(e) To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to services from those involved in the organization of recreational, tourism, leisure and sporting activities.
The International Disability Caucus and WFD plan to make this Convention available and accessible in the official languages of the UN and International Sign with a video tape or cd-rom. The World Federation of the Deaf will follow up on this plan.
