International Day of Sign Languages | 24 Sep 2024

Source: TH

The International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually on 23rd September, established by the 2017 UN General Assembly Resolution. The resolution emphasises that access to sign language and quality education is crucial for the development of deaf individuals and the preservation of linguistic and cultural diversity.

Theme for 2024: The theme is "Sign Up for Sign Language Rights," encouraging collective advocacy for sign language rights.
The date marks the establishment of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1951, which advocates for the rights and recognition of deaf individuals globally.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the UN in 2006 recognizes sign languages as equal to spoken languages and obligates states to promote the linguistic identity of the Deaf community.
India was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention in 2007.
In India, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, celebrates the IDSL.