23rd September - The International Day of Sign Languages

World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) initiated the first step towards dedicating a day for sign languages by a proposal submitted by the Federation, to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, which was eventually adopted by consensus under the General Assembly’s Resolution No. A/RES/72/161.

Photo: Google

Consequently, it was decided that 23^rd September of every year will be observed as the International Day of Sign Languages. The basis of choosing this particular date to celebrate the International Sign Language is in honor of the establishment of WFD on the same date in 1951. International Day of Sign Languages was first celebrated in 2018.

Photo: UN

The celebration of the day aims to raise awareness of the significance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf. According to the WDF, there are approximately 72 million deaf people worldwide. More than 80% of them live in developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages.

Photo: Best Dive Maldives

Abiding by the resolution of the General Assembly. Maldives is dedicated to help the people of the deaf community by governmental and non-governmental means. In 2009, the first Maldivian Sign Language Dictionary was published. It contains signs for approximately 650 works supported with English and Dhivehi description explaining the hand-shape and the movement to be used while signing a particular word.

Photo: Presidency Mv ( Launching of Maldives Sign Language Dictionary )

To empower and promote the rights of the deaf community of Maldives, Maldives Deaf Association (MDA). a non-governmental organization, was established. MDA actively organizes various awareness programs and raises funds to overcome the challenges existing in the deaf community. Additionally, governmental bodies and private bodies actively supports the inclusion of deaf people by creating opportunities for them which is available to a normal person. There is so much more work being carried out for the betterment of the deaf community, and it is not an easy task to make a comprehensive list of it.

Photo: Google

Nonetheless, one thing I want to highlight is that, sign language is commonly used in Maldives by scuba divers to communicate underwater, a significant recreational activity for not just the locals, but also tourists.

Sign language is of equal status to spoken language.