Int'l Day Of Sign Languages To Be Marked Tomorrow

International Day of Sign Languages will be marked on Sep 23 (Thursday) across the globe including Pakistan to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Sep, 2021 ) :International Day of Sign Languages will be marked on Sep 23 (Thursday) across the globe including Pakistan to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.

It is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.

The 2021 theme, declared by the World Federation of the Deaf, is "We Sign For Human Rights," highlighting how each of us deaf and hearing people around the world � can work together hand in hand to promote the recognition of our right to use sign languages in all areas of life.

According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide. More than 80% of them live in developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages.

Sign languages are fully-fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from spoken languages. There is also an international sign language, which is used by deaf people in international meetings and informally when traveling and socializing.

It is considered a pidgin form of sign language that is not as complex as natural sign languages and has a limited lexicon.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes and promotes the use of sign languages. It makes clear that sign languages are equal in status to spoken languages and obligates states parties to facilitate the learning of sign language and promote the linguistic identity of the deaf community.

The resolution establishing the day acknowledges that early access to sign language and services in sign language, including quality education available in sign language, is vital to the growth and development of the deaf individual and critical to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals.

It recognizes the importance of preserving sign languages as part of linguistic and cultural diversity. It also emphasizes the principle of "nothing about us without us" in terms of working with deaf communities.

The International Week of the Deaf was first celebrated in September 1958 and has since evolved into a global movement of deaf unity and concerted advocacy to raise awareness of the issues deaf people face in their everyday lives.