2023 was a year focused on strengthening. Our 5 major achievements:  World's Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf  Guidelines for Achieving Sign Language Rights  Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children  Deaf Flag  WFD Action Plan 2023-2027 2024 will be a year for strengthening our collective work to ensure we achieve our WFD Vision: A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere. The post 2023 Review appeared first on WFD ..read more

The WFD Congresses are quadrennial international gatherings that bring together global communities with the common aim of learning about deaf people’s lives.  At these Congresses, information on the current status of deaf peoples, our communities, and our national sign languages are presented. Each Congress then issues resolutions. Resolutions give us an overview of the major human rights issues facing our communities, and recommend actions going forward.  We are pleased to share with you the Resolutions of the 19th World’s Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf.  Let’s ..read more

The World Federation of the Deaf make this statement regarding the General Assembly’s decision for the United Arab Emirates to host the 2027 XX World Congress. Read the Media Statement The post Media Statement on the General Assembly Decision on the Host for the WFD XX World Congress 2027 appeared first on WFD ..read more

The WFD Board have appointed the following members of the Nomination and Election Panel, chaired Mr. Henry Mejía Royet, (WFD Regional Director for South America), Ms. U Ka Weng, Clarissa (WFD Asia) and Mr. Juventus Duorinaah (Ordinary Member of Ghana). The Panel is tasked to assess eligibility of nominations in pursuant to WFD’s Statutes 23.1 and 23.2 and the Internal Rules 23.2.1, 23.2.2, 23.2.3 and 23.2.4. A total of 16 Nominations has been received, 14 nominations are deemed eligible in pursuant of the WFD Statues and Internal Rules. 1 nomination has not met the eligibility criteria and i ..read more

The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) and the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), alongside gathered representatives of the National Associations of the Deaf, express their welcome for the organisation of the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities. This significant event presents an invaluable opportunity to address the barriers that deaf people encounter in exercising their freedom of movement within the European Union. One of the major challenges faced by deaf people in the European Union is the lack of information delivered in their national sign languages and the limited op ..read more

The World Federation of the Deaf is very happy to let you know about a new position paper on deaf people with intellectual disabilities. This is a community that is very important to our deaf community worldwide. In this position paper, we have worked closely together with two organisations, Down Syndrome International and Inclusion International. Read the position paper The post Position Paper on the Social Inclusion of Deaf People with Intellectual Disabilities appeared first on WFD ..read more

The World Federation of the Deaf is pleased to announce the publication of a report of our work over the past 4 years. We have worked hard and achieved many of our planned goals. The report is available in written English as well as International Sign. In this report, we lay out all that we were able to accomplish due to effective teamwork and collaboration with our WFD staff, our 135 Ordinary Members, and our many international partners. Together we have achieved much.. Read the report The post 2019 – 2023 WFD Report appeared first on WFD ..read more

The WFD has been contacted by our Ordinary Members about the issue of hearing people taking the place of deaf people by teaching sign languages or conducting research on national sign languages. Deaf people are excluded from participation in these activities related to their languages. This is unacceptable and a contravention of best practices in working with minority language communities. The WFD now issues this Position Paper on Research and Teaching in National Sign Languages as a guide to understanding the importance of deaf-led teaching and research work on national sign lang ..read more

The WFD works continuously for sign language rights for all deaf people. As part of this work, we are pleased to release a new position paper “Access to National Sign Languages as a Health Need”. National sign languages have a critical role in ensuring deaf people’s optimal mental, physical and social health across the lifespan. Access to national sign languages is a fundamental for optimal health outcomes. Please use this paper in your advocacy work for your national sign languages. Read the position paper The post Position Paper on Access to National Sign Languages as a Health Need app ..read more

2021, an exceptional year This year has been marked by COVID-19 and the 70th anniversary of WFD. We were active on both counts. We also continued our work to defend the rights of deaf people around the world through different actions and projects. Our work prioritizes the collaboration between the WFD and national associations of deaf people who make up our membership. This year we have expanded to 131 Ordinary Members. We have continued to do our work through zoom, with consultations through collaborative dialogue. We have also participated in  ..read more