International Day of Sign Languages | 23 September 2026
#IDSL #SignLanguageRights #IWDP
Today the world marks the International Day of Sign Languages.
This year’s theme is Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights. The day calls for action to make deaf people’s human rights real in all areas of life — including full access through national sign languages.
Sign languages are not gestures. They are fully fledged natural languages, distinct from spoken languages, with their own structure and culture. There are more than 300 sign languages used by over 70 million deaf people worldwide, and more than 80 percent live in developing countries.
2026 is special. It marks two major milestones — the 75th anniversary of the World Federation of the Deaf and 20 years since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recognizes sign languages as equal in status to spoken languages and obliges states to promote Deaf linguistic identity.
The International Day of Sign Languages was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2017, following a proposal by the World Federation of the Deaf. The date 23 September was chosen because it is the day the WFD was founded in 1951.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is clear that early access to sign language and quality education in sign language is vital for the growth, development and dignity of deaf children and adults.
At WAELE AFRICA Foundation, we join the call to recognize, protect and promote sign languages as part of linguistic and cultural diversity. Inclusion means everyone can be heard and understood in their own language.
Let’s declare and defend sign language rights — for everyone, everywhere.
#InternationalDayOfSignLanguages
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