WFD Newsletter July 2011.indd

WFD
NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF
JULY 2011
AN INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION WITH
1 A SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE STATUS IN THE UNITED NATIONS
We
welcome all news, articles,
letters to the editor, and other
contributions. We reserve the right
of acceptance or rejection and the
right to edit all submissions that we
publish.
Please send all correspondence to:
World Federation of the Deaf
PO Box 65
00401 Helsinki
Finland
E-mail: [email protected]
Layout Anja Hurtamo
CONTENTS
3
NEWS FROM THE WFD
6
WFD CONGRESS 18 - 24 JULY 2011
10
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
12
NEWS FROM WFD MEMBERS AND PARTNERS
14
ITEMS OF INTEREST
15
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
15
WFD MERCHANDISE
16
COMING EVENTS
WFD, the World Federation of the Deaf, is
an umbrella organisation providing a wide
range of support and advocacy services
for national Deaf associations. The World
Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in 1951 in Rome, Italy during the
first Deaf World Congress. As an international non-governmental organisation, it
has a special consultative status in the United Nations (UN) system, where it is represented at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); the Educational Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the
International Labour Organization (ILO);
and World Health Organization (WHO).
It also has participatory status with the
Council of Europe (CoE). WFD currently
has 130 national associations of the Deaf
as its members. WFD provides a platform
for cooperation and information exchange
among its members and partners. As an
international organisation and through national organisations, WFD is emphasizing
on improving the human rights for Deaf
persons, the status of national sign languages, better education for Deaf people,
and improved access to information technology and services.
2
60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF
THE DEAF 1951 - 2011
Establishment
The World Federation of the Deaf has been working
already for 60 years towards full Human Rights for Deaf
People. Thus this year it celebrates its 60th anniversary,
WFD was established in Rome, Italy, 19 – 23 September
1951 during the World Congress, under the auspices
of the Italian Deaf Association. Sixteen (16) official
delegates from the national associations of the deaf
decided to formally establish an organisation to serve as
an international platform for the needs and desires of
Deaf People. Since then the membership of the WFD
has grown from 16 to 131 country members.
Dr. Cesare Magarotto was the first elected General
Secretary of the WFD General Secretariat and
served in this position until 1987. During the General
Assembly organised in Helsinki, Finland, in 1987, Dr.
Liisa Kauppinen was elected as WFD’s second General
Secretary holding this position until 1996. During
this period, a lot of financial support came from the
Finnish government. At the 67th WFD Board meeting
in Geneva, Switzerland in 1996, the Board appointed
Ms. Carol-lee Aquiline from Australia/USA as the first
ever full time salaried General Secretary (1996 – 2005).
Due to a more difficult financial situation WFD has not
been able to appoint a new General Secretary since the
departure of Ms. Aquiline.
In 1987 the General Secretariat was moved to Helsinki,
During the 1951 Congress around 600 participants Finland. The financial support came from the Finnish
from 30 – 40 countries attended the Congress.
government and the Finnish Association of the Deaf
(FAD) led by the former WFD General Secretary Dr.
In 1948, the United Nations was established to focus Liisa Kauppinen (WFD President Emeritius) and Dr.
on human rights for the general population all over Yerker Andersson was the president at this time, and was
the world. The early date makes that WFD is one of a wonderful support to the WFD General Secretariat.
the oldest international organisations of persons with From 2003 to 2011, the WFD President Markku Jokinen
disabilities in the world that focuses on human rights leaded the General Secretariat. The Scandinavian deaf
of deaf people.
organisations and other deaf organisations have also
supported the WFD General Secretariat financially for
Dr. Cesare Magarotto was one of the founders of the a number of years. The delegates at the 17th General
World Federation of the Deaf and its first General Assembly in Madrid, Spain in July 2007 approved
Secretary (1951-1987) along with Mr. Vittorio Ieralla Finland as the legal seat for WFD.
who served as the President in 1951 -1955.
In the beginning, WFD had a very strong Deaf
Mr. Ieralla and Dr. Magarotto successfully convinced presence, and was led by Deaf people themselves. By
the Italian government to support the establishment the 1960s, the hearing control became very strong, and
of the WFD General Secretariat in Rome, in 1951. continued to grow through the 1970’s. In the 1980s,
The office was based in Italy from 1951 – 1987. With Deaf involvement in the WFD Board and in World
continued support from the Italian government and later Congresses began to strengthen again, continuing until
from the Italian Deaf Association, Ente Nazionale dei today.
Sordomutti, (ENS), the WFD General Secretariat was
able to establish informative and advocacy networks, The 11th World Congress in Tokyo, Japan in 1991
with national federations of the Deaf around the world. attracted 7000 persons from all over the world, which
was the largest congress ever.
Organisation and Activities
Presidents from 1951 – 2011:
1951 - 1955 - Vittorio Ieralla, Italy
1955 – 1983 - Dragoljub Vukotic, former Yugoslavia
1983 – 1995 - Yerker Andersson, USA
1995 – 2003 - Liisa Kauppinen, Finland
2003 – 2011 - Markku Jokinen, Finland
The WFD General Assembly takes place every four
years, prior to the World Congress. The 17th General
Assembly organised in Madrid, Spain in 2007 was the
largest ever with ninety-four (94) delegates, thanks to
the Spanish Government’s grants and as well as from
some of the Scandinavian countries for delegates from
developing countries to attend the General Assembly
and the World Congress.
More organisations of Deaf people have developed,
even in very poor countries. From the late 1980s
onwards, developing countries really began to become
involved in WFD, resulting in a membership base of
131 deaf associations today.
3
WFD has four membership categories: Ordinary
Members (national organisation of deaf people),
Associate Members, Honorary Members and Individual
Members. Some of WFD’s Associate Members, such
as the Gallaudet University, have had a strong cooperational relationship with the WFD since the 1950s.
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It was
adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations
Headquarters in New York, and opened for signature
on 30 March 2007. It is the first comprehensive human
rights treaty of the 21st century and is the first human
rights convention which was opened for signature by
regional integration organizations. The CRPD entered
In its daily work WFD emphasises on improving the into force on 3 May 2008.
status of national sign languages, advocates for better
education for deaf people, supports deaf organisations
in various ways, encourages Deaf people to organise Youth Section
themselves for participation in decision – or policymaking, their right to sign language interpreters and Since the establishment of the WFD in 1951, there
access to information in sign language.
have always been deaf youth attending the World
Congresses, but there was nothing officially in place till
Governments in over 40 countries now officially 1987. The youth forum was set up in Helsinki, Finland
acknowledge sign language as a language of their and then a youth working group was established. At the
country, and also in national legislation that protect the WFD World Congress in Tokyo, Japan, there was again
rights of deaf people.
a youth gathering with informal forums. An unofficial
selection took place and established a Youth Group.
This group worked hard to host the first Youth Camp,
developing a network of deaf youth from different
Cooperation with the United Nations
countries. The first WFDYS Camp (age 18 – 30) was in
held in Austria, prior to the World Congress, and later
After being granted a consultative status with the United on, Junior (age 13 – 17) and Children’s Camp (age 10 –
Nations (UN) system, WFD has cooperated with the 12) were set up in other countries.
UN and its agencies, Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC), Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), International Labour
Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization Commission and Special Interest Groups
(WHO) since the late 1950’s. WFD joined the Council
of Europe (COE) in 2007 obtaining a participatory The WFD arranged workshops for all the Scientific
status.
Commissions in different fields, like Deaf Education,
Sign Language and other specific topics (at present
it
is called Commission group) and Non-Scientific
Moreover WFD has been very involved in advocacy
sections
(at present it is called Special Interest Groups).
and networking with the UN bodies such as the
The
fi
rst
Scientific Section workshop was held in
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World
Helsinki,
Finland
in 1988. The Network of experts was
Bank and the Global Partnership for Disability and
established
in
1991.
Development (GPDD), especially at present with the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International
Disability Alliance (IDA). The International Disability Regional Secretariats
Alliance (IDA) is the network of global and regional
organizations of persons with disabilities.
A Regional Secretariat is a network formed by the
national associations of the Deaf of a particular region.
WFD participated actively in providing assistance for The first WFD Regional Secretariat was established in
the text of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of 1984 in the Asia and the Pacific region and later on the
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, which was Eastern and Southern Africa region and the Eastern
adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1983.
European and Middle Asia was established in 1996.
Later more regional secretariats have been established
In 1994 WFD also participated in the process that led in South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
to the adoption of the text of the Salamanca Statement
and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education
at the World Conference on Special Needs Education: Other special events
Access and Quality.
In September 2001, WFD celebrated its 50th anniversary
In 2001-2006, WFD along with IDA (8 international at its birthplace, Rome Italy, hosted by the Italian
disability organisations at the time) was represented in Deaf Association with a conference, art and history
the drafting process of a UN Ad Hoc Committee on a exhibition, and a gala dinner.
Comprehensive and Integral International Convention
on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Between the WFD congress years, a smaller scale WFD
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. WFD aims were conference can be held and be hosted by an Ordinary
realized through the adoption of the Convention on Member or an Associate Member of the WFD. The
4
first and so far the only WFD Conference, the Human
Rights WFD Conference, Our Rights – Our Future
was held in Helsinki, Finland in September 2005, which
attracted over 400 participants from 69 countries.
Conclusion
anniversary in Durban, South Africa because the WFD
Congress is held for the first time in African soil. At
this event, a history of the WFD from 1951 - 2001
by Dr. Jack R. Gannon will be launched. WFD Board
and General Secretariat would like to thank Dr. Jack
R. Gannon for his wonderful work by volunteering to
write the history of the WFD.
We commemorate the presidents who have guided
the WFD through the years and also greet the WFD
Ordinary Members that have contributed enormously
to the flourishing of the WFD in many ways.
You are welcome to celebrate with us on 17 July 2011
after the WFD General Assembly in Durban. If you
can not join us, we want you to join us spiritually in
honouring people and organisations around the world
that have worked, and still continue to work towards for
It is now perfect time to celebrate WFD’s 60th full human rights of deaf people.
WFD General Assembly, 1957
Meeting with the African delegate
World Congress, 1951
5
WORLD CONGRESS 18 - 24 JULY 2011, DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
XVI WORLD CONGRESS REGISTRATION
Have you registered for the XVI World Congress
of WFD yet? Don’t miss out! The Congress
is shaping up to be a terrific event. There is
something for everyone within the programme.
You can:
•
Meet up with old friends and make new
ones
•
Find out what is happening for deaf
people around the world at the plenary
sessions, commissions and special
interest group presentations
•
See deaf theatre performances
•
Spend your evenings with new and old
friends at the Deaf Pub
•
Visit the trade and craft exhibitions
•
To chat, eat and drink at the welcome
cocktail party and the Congress dinner.
•
Go on a tour – before, during, or after
the Congress – with other deaf people.
Nelson Mandela International Day
18 July 2011
The World Congress Organising Committee is delighted to
announce that the day of the opening ceremony, 18th July
2011, will concide with their icon Nelson Mandela's 92nd
birthday. There will be a very special Madiba moment during
the opening ceremony to pay tribute to their icon.
If you have not registered yet, relax –
registrations will be accepted right up until the
Congress begins.
What is Mandela Day?
For further information, check on WFD
Congress website: www.wfd2011.com The
WFD Congress Registration is available online.
For fees and registration, please visit: http://
www.wfd2011.com and http://wfd2011.com/
registration
Mandela Day on July 18 is an annual international day
adopted by the United Nations. It is more than a celebration
of Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy; it is a global movement
to take his life’s work into a new century and change our
world for the better. Mandela Day asks us all to embrace
Madiba’s values and honour his legacy through an act of
kindness. Who knows, it might leave you inspired enough to
make every day a Mandela Day!
COME AND JOIN US!
If you would like to read the full UN General Assembly
Declaration on Mandela Day, please click here.
Three good reasons to celebrate
• Madiba turns 92 on July 18!
• You’ve been handed the torch to take his life’s work forward.
• This is an historic opportunity to literally make the world
a better place
6
7
15 JULY 2011
WFD GENERAL ASSEMBLY WORKSHOP
16–17 JULY 2011
WFD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORDINARY MEMBERS ONLY
WFD has sent a registered letter along with documents to all Ordinary Members on 17 June 2010
for the upcoming XVIII General Assembly, which will be held from 16 – 17 July 2011 in Durban,
South Africa prior to the World Congress. The General Secretariat would like to remind Ordinary
Members to send the
•
TWO (2) ORIGINAL ENTRUSTING POWER FORMS.
81 Ordinary Members have already sent their Entrusting Power forms to represent for the General Assembly.
FINAL AGENDA AND ATTACHMENTS
WORKSHOP
WFD had sent a package along with the final agenda
with attached reports and other documents on 15 April
2011 (at three months in advance, as stated in WFD
Statutes Article 28.1.), prior to the General Assembly,
to its Ordinary Members.
A workshop for the General Assembly (GA) will
be held on 15 July 2011, prior to the XVIII General
Assembly for Ordinary Members
The WFD Secretariat highly recommends all
of OM delegates to participate in the General
Assembly workshop since the programme
is extremely useful to prepare for the next
day’s WFD General Assembly and as well as
information on the United Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Documents inside the package include:
1. Cover letter
2. Invitation of the General Assembly Workshop
3. Workshop and General Assembly Programme
4. Agenda
Appendixes:
- List of Delegates
- Call to XVIII General Assembly
- XVII General Assembly Minutes
- Report of the Board on WFD Activities
during the Period 2007- 2011
- Financial statement for the Period 2007 –
2010
- Proposals for amendments to the Statutes
- WFD Vision and Action Plan 2011 - 2015
- Nominations to the WFD Board
Further information about the General Assembly:
please be in contact to Ms. Phillipa Sandholm (phillipa.
[email protected]).
8
DONORS
ICED PETITION - TAKE ACTION
WFD wishes to thank to those WFD
members who have made a contribution
to support the WFD.
Here are the names of the contributors:
World Federation of the Deaf is calling
individuals to sign an online petition, New Era
Document, which rejects the resolutions of the
1880 Milan Congress that banned the use of
sign language from educational programmes
for deaf children. Paal Richard Peterson
Najat M.M. Hussain
Murata Honami
Okada Tomohiro
TO SIGN THE PETITION, PLEASE
VISIT:
Shirai Hiroko
Nagakawa Chiharu
Seto Natsumi
www.petitions24.com/wfd
Nagase Yuka
Furuta Akiko
Murasato Yuki
Arai Takaaki
Inagawa Naoki
Tamura Momoko
Adachi Masami
Keiko Sagara
WFD MEMBERSHIP FEES
FOR WFD ORDINARY MEMBERS ONLY
All of the membership fees must be paid fully (including
The nomination for election for the WFD Board
debts from previous years) by 15 July 2011 in order to 2011 – 2015 will be accepted if the membership fees
have voting rights at the WFD General Assembly in (including debts from previous years) have been paid
Durban, South Africa (16 – 17 July 2011).
by 15 July 2011.
Payments can be made in cash usins Euro (€)
currency until the end of the workshop prior to the
General Assembly.
9
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Committee on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities calls for recognition and promotion of
the use of sign language in Tunisia
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES (CRPD)
From 11 to 15 April 2011, the Committee on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee) met
for its 5th session in which it undertook its first review
of a State party, Tunisia.
5 ARTICLES REFER DIRECTLY TO SIGN LANGUAGES
AND THE DEAF:
Thus the CRPD Committee engaged in its first ever
constructive dialogue and adopted its first set of
Concluding Observations with respect to Tunisia.
Article 2: Definitions
Article 9: Accessibility (2 e)
Article 21: Freedom of expression and opinion,
and access to information (b and e)
Article 24: Education (3b, 3c 4)
Article 30: Participation in cultural life, recreation,
leisure and sport (4)
BY NOW
•
101 ratificiations of the Convention
•
149 signatories to the Convention
OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION
•
61 ratifications of the Optional Protocol
•
90 signatories to the Optional Protocol
RECENT SIGNATURES AND RATIFICATIONS:
•
Colombia ratified the Convention on
10 May 2011
The International Disability Alliance (IDA) had made
both a written submission and oral intervention in
the lead up to the constructive dialogue with Tunisia,
proposing recommendations which the Committee
could consider for their Concluding Observations.
In the Concluding observations the CRPD Committee
included recommendations on freedom of expression
under Article 24 (on education) to provide information
intended for the general public in accessible formats
and – especially with respect to the deaf, hard of hearing
and deafblind- recognise and promote the use of sign
language. Given that this recommendation comes
under the Committee’s treatment of education, there
is a strong case that the Committee is simultaneously
calling for the use and promotion of sign language in
schools.
Source: International Disability Alliance
List of Issues on Spain adopted by the CRPD
Committee: more information asked on sign
language teaching and accessible sign language
interpreter services in health care
CRPD Committee adopted a List of issues to be taken
up in connection with the consideration of the initial
report of Spain. The report will be reviewed in two
meetings in September 2011.
CRPD Committee asks Spain to explain their plans for
the integration of Spanish sign language as an optional
subject in regular schools. It also asks to provide
information about regional variations in sign language
teaching in the educational system. In addition, related
to article 25 on health Spain should provide information
on how many health facilities are accessible and whether
these health facilities provide for free sign language
interpretation, Braille and other accessible modes of
communication.
Source: International Disability Alliance and the CRPD
Committee
10
Unfortunately the summary report will not be available
in international sign at first place but WFD has already
contacted WHO and asked for co-operation in order
One of the principle functions of the Committee on the to produce a summary of the report in more accessible
Rights of Persons with Disabilities is to review periodic format for deaf persons.
reports submitted by States parties under Article 35 of
Source: UN Enable and WFD
the CRPD.
Facts about the List of Issues and Concluding
observations
The CRPD Committee conducts a preliminary review
of the State Party report and prepares a list of issues
which serves to supplement and update the information
provided in the initial report. The State Party is requested
to respond to the list of issues in writing within a set
time limit. The report and the responses to the list of
issues are then considered at the next plenary session
of the Committee and form the basis of the discussion
with the State Party. The State Party is invited to
participate in the plenary session in order to respond to
questions posed by Committee members and to provide
the Committee with additional information. At the end
of the dialogue, the Committee issues concluding
observations which point out the positive aspects, the
factors and difficulties impeding the implementation
of the CRPD, the principal subjects of concern and
concrete suggestions and recommendations for future
action.
DPOs have the opportunity to provide input on
how the CRPD is being implemented at national
level at various stages including during the drafting
of the State Party report, the list of issues and the
concluding observations. DPOs also have a role to
play in the follow-up to the concluding observations,
during days of general discussion and in the drafting
of general comments. Involvement and participation
with national monitoring frameworks and other
national implementation and monitoring bodies is a key
component to ensuring the effective implementation of
the CRPD.
Source: IDA Guidance document: Effective use of International
Human Rights Monitoring Mechanisms to Protect the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (May 2010)
Launch of the World Disability Report
Including children and persons with disabilities in
education
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs
(DESA) along with its partners will organize a sideevent panel discussion on realizing the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) of universal primary
education for children with disabilities at the 2011 HighLevel Segment of the substantive session of ECOSOC
Annual Ministerial Review in Geneva on 5 July. The
event entitled "Education for All: inclusion of children
and persons with disabilities" will highlight the findings
of the first World Disability Report and explore the
barriers facing children with disabilities in their access
to education and ways to foster inclusive education
which benefits all children. The panel will also discuss
options for strengthening mechanisms for collecting
data and information on children with disabilities who
may be otherwise unaccounted for in national statistics
on education and school enrolment.
International Disability Alliance (IDA) is at the
moment preparing a written statement on education
for the ECOSOC High-Level Segment meeting. WFD
commented the draft version and brought up issues
such as the need to take into consideration the diverse
needs of different groups of children with disabilities,
for example the importance of bilingual education for
deaf children and that education should be based on
students’ needs. In its comments WFD also highlighted
that deaf children need first to be included into the
school system by their most appropriate language and
their culture before they can be integrated in different
areas of life at later stages, for instance in secondary
and tertiary education as well as in working life.
The final IDA statement will be made available to all
WFD members after the ECOSOC meeting in July.
The World Report on Disability produced jointly by
the World Health Organization and the World Bank
was launched at UN headquarters on 9 June. The
report reviews evidence about the global situation of
persons with disabilities and offers directions for policy
and practice to address exclusion. It contains chapters
on health; rehabilitation; assistance and support;
enabling environments; education; and employment.
Importantly, the report also includes the first new
disability prevalence estimates since the 1970s and
makes the case for better data collection.
11
NEWS WFD MEMBERS AND PARTNERS
BRAZIL
WFD President Mr. Markku Jokinen has sent a message
to the Brazilian Deaf community through videoclip to
support not to close the over 150-year Deaf school
and also not to close the sign language interpreting
programs in the university a month ago. See the link of
the videoclip:
http://www.goodmoodtv.com/internettv/singlevideoplayer.jsp?account=KuurojenLiitto&id=5470041&vide
oId=30945763&width=512&height=288
ITALY
WFD has sent a letter of support for the recognition
of Italian Sign Language (LIS) to the Italian Deaf
Association (ENS) to be used as a lobbying tool towards
the Italian Parliament which planned to characterize LIS
as a ‘mime and gesture language’, instead of an official
language. In its letter WFD hoped that the Parliament
of Italy would listen to the deaf community of their
proposal that LIS should be officially recognised in
Italy. Around the world, deaf people supported the
Italian Deaf community by writing petition letters to
Italian embassies, and even organised small protests in
front of the embassy. More information is founded in
this link: http://www.lissubito.com/
ICELAND
The Icelandic Association of the Deaf and the deaf
community of Iceland recently celebrated for the bill
to be passed to increase the legal status of Icelandic
Sign Language in the Icelandic parliament. WFD
congratulates the Icelandic Deaf community for their
achievement!!!
GAMBIA
The Gambia Association of the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing (GADHOH), on Sunday 17 April, 2011 held
its annual general meeting in Kanifing, at GADHOH
headquarters. Members present at the meeting called on
the government of The Gambia for the ratification of
the persons with disability act in the country, to employ
sign language interpreters at the national television and
other institutions.
Mr. Abdoukadir Drammeh, President of GADHOH,
told in the gathering that the association is doing all its
best day and night for the government of The Gambia
to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRDP), but
was quick to give some strides that have been made in
other areas in the convention citing some parts of the
Gambian constitution that gives rights to persons with
disabilities in the country.
Drammeh remarked that the government departments,
ministries, and tertiary institutions should work with
them to establish and finance training program for
sign language interpreters, and teachers of the deaf.
He pointed out that the association is lobbying for the
government department to ensure that the Gambia
Radio and Television Services (GRTS) will employ
sign language interpreters at the national television. He
noted that they (GADHOH) are also lobbying for the
institution of high school for the deaf and heard of
hearing students at college and university also to have
sign language interpreters. He adds: “We at GADHOH
are doing advocacy and lobbying for the government
for the recognition of a Gambian national sign language
as an official language in the Gambian soil.”
Drammeh says that all persons are equal before the law
adding that persons with disabilities should be treated
equally in the society like any other persons. He added
that the 1997 constitution of The Gambia states that
the right of the disabled to respect and human dignity
shall be recognised by the State, going further, he adds
the disabled persons shall be entitled to protection
against exploitation and discrimination, in particular as
regard to health services, education and employment.
According to him, the association’s vision is
empowerment, equity and barrier free society for all
deaf and hard of hearing persons, while their mission
says to promote equal opportunities, rights and full
participation of deaf and hard of hearing persons in
The Gambia.
He explained that in the year 2010, the organization has
organised and implemented a series of activities during
organizational development training by Volunteer
Service Overseas (VSO), has held regular board
meeting, and participated in the WFD training program
on capacity building of Western and Central Africa
aiming at strengthening organizational development,
deaf awareness, lobbying and advocacy work in human
rights of deaf people amongst others.
Presenting Secretary General’s report, Mr. Abdoulie
Sallah, said that their 2010 activity began with the election
of a new board and their regional branches namely
Brikama, Banjul and Kanifing actively participated in
the national cleaning exercise days. He added that the
association also took in media awareness concerning
the society’s need to discourage organised begging by
individual deaf people from neighboring countries, sign
language teaching and interpreters service beyond the
roof of their headquarters was carried out. According to
him, the media awareness campaign will still be ongoing,
as sign language interpreter’s services be delivered at the
Gambia Technical Training Institute and joint activities
between GADHOH and other development partners
will continue.
Secretary General Sallah disclosed that the association
has also participated in both local and international
sporting events as well as participated in local and
international conferences.
12
Vice President of GADHOH, Adama Jammeh, and
Ebou Bobb presented the association annual work
plan, and financial report respectively. Other speakers
included representatives from various regions namely;
Jainaba Marong and Sang Bass both from Farafenni,
Matarr Choi Barra, Abdoulie Njie Banjul, Karamo
Sanyang Brikama, Madam Euphrasia Mbewe Finnish
Association of the Deaf (FAD project Adviser from
Zambia), and the meeting was closed by Madam Isatou
Sanyang GADHOH Women Affairs.
INDIA
All India Federation of the Deaf and the Indian Sign
Language Interpreters’ Association have decided to
cooperate for upgrading interpreting skills and to do
more training of sign language interpreters on the terms
of the agreement between WFD and World Association
of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI).
She is working as a secretary in her hometown. Nenad
Mahmutović 22 years old and is also from Paracin, and
is currently out of work.
During the two-hour competition finals, held in one
of Radio-Television Serbia’s (RTS), the ten finalists,
individuals or groups, presented their own performance
prepared especially for this occasion.
Through "thick and thin" audition about 4500
candidates from Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia
passed in front of the jury actress Danica Maksimovic,
conductor Ivan Tasovac, and composer Aleksandar
Milic Mili. In the next round, 400 candidates and then
finally 40 were qualified to the semi-finals.
However, the final part of the competition, which was
held on Sunday, 26 June, the jury did not decide on the
winner, as only the votes from viewers who voted via
text message were counted.
Winners - dance duo from Paracin, received a cheque
of 100, 000 Euros and a chance to realise their dreams
through a contract, which can mean the beginning of a
serious career.
The reason why these two organizations cooperated is
because the government in India has not been able to
provide sign language services to the deaf people.
Sign language is now receiving more attention in India
than before.
SERBIA
News from Association of the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing of Serbia and Montenegro
Milica and Nenad most talented
Milica Djokic and Nenad Mahmutović are the most
talented among the 4500 reported contestants in a TV
series "I have talent," in which they won 100,000 Euros
and a contract.
Our Deaf members Milica Djokic and Nenad
Mahmutović are this year's winners in the very popular
competition which lasted a few months starting with
auditions in several cities around Serbia.
Milica and Nenad are members of the Organisation
of the Deaf Paracin. They have been involved in hip
hop dance for the last five years and they have danced,
for instance at the Festivals of the Deaf in Serbia.
Milica Djokic is 21 years old and was born in Paracin.
13
ITEMS OF INTEREST
DEAF JOURNALIST DON´T GROW ON TREES
The recently cancelled Deaflympics Winter Games in
Slovakia created talks all over the world. There were
far more questions than answers. H3, a relatively new
web TV Channel, became the natural choice for the
deaf people to search information. The H3 team was
in Slovakia and had therefore an unique opportunity
to follow the development, to feel the atmosphere in
the country, to meet sportsmen and other individuals.
H3 certainly wrote a new chapter in the history
when they reported the scandal to the global deaf
community. Nobody else has offered a mini deaf CNN
like that.
I applaud H3 for their efforts to serve news to us deaf
people on a global level. The H3 web TV is a great
contribution to the deaf global community. However, it
is not sufficient, we need more media resources. In 2008
I became the first deaf in Sweden to have a university
exam in journalism when I graduated from the University
of Stockholm. Today I am a reporter, working for the
Swedish Deaf Magazine, distributed by the Swedish
Deaf Association. I have worked as a reporter for the
Swedish public service TV and had a long internship at
a major Swedish morning news paper. I am certain that
an educated journalist is not automatically better than
an uneducated but I can see my advantages and I am
confident that I have developed more than other (so
called) deaf journalists even outside Sweden.
but equally important departments: advocacy work,
information, and media. The three departments should
cooperate but it is essential that the media section is seen
as an autonomous part so it can publish less encouraging
opinions about the national deaf association. This
independence will encourage individual members to
publish their opinions. I am convinced that an open
debate about the national deaf associations will develop
and make it more powerful especially if the Internet
and social media networks like Facebook, blogs and
Twitter are used for the discussion.
Another way to spread news and create debate is to
introduce a sign language web TV. However, TV is
expensive especially for a small target group such as the
deaf community. There are three options to finance a
channel. The first alternative is that one or several deaf
organizations pay the bills. Another option would be to
finance the broadcast by commercials. A third way is to
use the public service stations such as BBC.
The problem is that there are very few deaf journalists
who are able to offer high quality journalistic products.
It is why I want you to encourage deaf persons who have
a strong bilingualism to study to become journalists.
Another alternative is to self-study and have a constant
dialogue with an experienced journalist. Two of the
most vital competences to be successful are to have a
feeling of what is news and not, and always strive to be
Deaf people are known to be excellent in using visual as objective as possible (full objectivity is impossible).
media, TV. However, some of the deaf TV anchors If you know a person who has these qualities, you have
and reporters need to develop and become more “TV” probably found the right candidate.
professional. It is not enough to have a clear and beautiful
sign language. Deaf magazines, usually distributed Deaf journalists are highly needed. They are experts
by national deaf associations, can be seen in many on deaf issues and can easier conduct investigating
cases as an informative publication rather than a news journalism. My colleauge (self-educated journalist),
magazine. My point is that we need more professional Tomas Lagergren, and I are planning to cover the WFD
deaf journalists who can present both sides’ best Congress in Durban in July. It is where we hope to
arguments, select information, and are eager to make ground a press club for deaf journalists across borders.
the complicated world a little more understandable in a The deaf journalists are so few in the world. It is why
shortened format, and more. H3 is successful but can in we need the club to network, discuss and exchange
my opinion lose focus since they go too wide and deep ideas and jobs.
in their reporting. An example is that they interviewed
the members of the Winter Deaflympics Organizing
Committee: the one member who is responsible for I do not believe that journalists can change the world.
accreditation, the second for transportation and the But we can influence our media consumers’ opinions
third for accommodation… I think having a focus on and their choice of paths. It is our great power. Let us
together handle it well and carefully.
the most vital parts is good journalism.
My big dream is that more national deaf associations And let us even plant more seeds that perhaps become
understand the importance of organizing three different trees one day.
NICLAS MARTINSSON
[email protected]
14
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
COUNTRY NAME-SIGN
A popular book published for WFD (2003) Collection of data: Japan Institute for Sign Language
Studies and Tomas Hedberg, Swedish National
Association of the Deaf. The Country Name-Sign
books are available in the WFD General Secretariat.
If you would like to order a copy, please do contact
by email: [email protected] and then we will send
you an invoice for payment of the order.
DEAF PEOPLE & HUMAN RIGHTS
A report written by Ms Hilde Haualand, researcher
and Mr Colin Allen, project coordinator and report
assistant.
The “Deaf People and Human Rights” report is
based on a survey that is, up until now, the largest
knowledge database on the situation of Deaf people.
The lives of Deaf people in 93 countries, most of
which are developing countries, are addressed.
The Swedish National Association of the Deaf
and the World Federation of the Deaf initiated the
survey, with funding from the Swedish Agency for
International Development Co-operation (Sida)
and the Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons
International Aid Association (Shia).
The report is available on the WFD Website in
English and International Sign. You can also order a
DVD of the report in International Sign for postage
fee (11 €).
If you wish to receive the DVD, please contact
WFD General Secretariat Office at orders@
wfdeaf.org.
WFD MERCHANDISE
If you are interested in ordering items from WFD, such
as DVD – Suggested International Signs for use at
the WFD General Assembly, T-shirts (golf, woman
and ordinary), WFD Pins, water bottles, watches,
pens and caps, you can make an order through email,
which is [email protected] Here is the price list of
the items:
COUNTRY NAME-SIGN BOOK – 10 €
DVD – SUGGESTED INTERNATIONAL SIGNS
WFD GENERAL ASSEMBLY – 15 €
FOR USE AT THE
DVD - DEAF PEOPLE AND HUMAN RIGHTS - 11 €
ORDINARY
FRONT – 5
T-SHIRT (BLUE
€
WFD PIN – 2 €
WFD CAP – 2,50 €
15
OR WHITE)
WFD LOGO
ON THE
COMING EVENTS
WASLI Conference
Theme:
Think Globally, Act Locally
Date:
14-16 July 2011
Place:
Durban, South Africa
Registration to the conference: http://www.wasli.org/
ThinkGlobally-ActLocally.htm
Website:
http://www.wasli.org/registration-forconference-14-16-july-2011-p94.aspx
16th World Congress of the WFD
Theme:
Global Deaf Renaissance
Date:
18 – 24 July 2011
Place:
Durban, South Africa
Telephone:
+27 11 482 1610
Fax:
+27 11 726 5873
Email:
secretariat(at)wfd2011.com
personalassistant(at)wfd2011.com
Website:
http://www.wfd2011.com
2nd Annual Coalition for Global Hearing
Date:
8 – 9 September 2011
Place:
Los Angeles, California, USA
Website:
http://cfghh.squarespace.com/
SIGN5 - Conference
Date:
21 - 23 October 2011 (+ pre-conference
workshops 18 - 20 October)
Place:
Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Organisers:
Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey –
International Institute for Sign
Languages and Deaf Studies, University
of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
http://www.uclan.ac.uk/schools/
journalism_media_communication/
islands/sign5.php
I International Festival of Short-Movies in Sign
Language
Date:
12 November 2011
Place:
Tolosa, Spain
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
http://gainditzen.blogspot.es
European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters
(EFSLI) conference
Theme:
Sight Translation - Sight Interpreting Meeting at the Cross Modes
Date:
16 – 18 September 2011
Place:
Salerno, Italy
Contact:
[email protected]
Website:
www.efsli2011.org
2nd International Exhibition of Deaf Artists in
Croatia- Split
Theme:
"Silence embraced in the Adriatic Wave"
Date:
24 September – 1 October 2011
Place:
Split, Croatia
Contact:
NGO for Culture of Deaf and Hard of
Hearing People in Croatia „Word of
Silence“
Nehruov trg 20
Zagreb
CROATIA
Fax:
+385 1 6520 478
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
http://www.svijet-tisine.hr
Disabled Peoples’ International 8th World
Assembly
Date:
10 – 13 October 2011
Place:
Durban, South Africa
Contact:
DPI 2011 8th World Assembly
Secretariat
The Conference Company
Tel:
+27 31 303 9852
Fax:
+27 31 303 9529
Website:
http://www.dpi2011.co.za/en/home
1st International Congress on Family-centred
Early Intervention for Children who are Deaf and
Hard of Hearing
Date:
30 May – 1 June 2012
Place:
Bad Ischl, Austria
Contact:
Hospital of St. John of God
Institut of Neurology and of Senses and Languages
Seilerstätte 2, 4021 Linz, Austria
Email:
[email protected]
Tel.:
+43 (0) 732-7897-23706
Fax:
+43 (0) 732-7897-23798
Website:
www.fcei2012.org
Deaf Business Exhibition
Date:
22 – 24 July, 2012
Place:
London, United Kingdom
Organiser:
Nazia Bidi
Contact:
The Executive Centre
344-354 Gray's Inn Road
London, WC1X 8BD
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel:
+44 207 164 2140
Email:
deafexpo2012(at)btinternet.com
Website:
www.deafbizexpo2012.com
16
8th Deaf History International Conference
Theme:
Telling Deaf Lives: Biographies &
Autobiographies
Date:
24 – 29 July 2012
Place:
Toronto, Canada
Website:
www.dhiconference2012.ca
Deaf World Cruise 2013* along with *Miss Deaf
International Events*
Departure:
Rome, Italy
Arrival:
Athens, Greece
Date:
July 2013
More small exotic tours will also be offered prior very
special Deaf World Cruise and after Deaflympics.)
Contact:
Michael Ubowski
Email:
[email protected]
By mail:
Deaf Cruise
14700 North Frank Lloyd Wright
Boulevard #157, PMB #379
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Phone:
Fax:
Website:
+1 866 922 3090
+1 480 657 0744
http://www.DeafWorldCruise.com
22nd Summer Deaflympics - CANCELLED
Date:
31 July – 13 August 2013
Place:
Athens, Greece
Email:
[email protected]
2nd International Conference of the WFD
Theme:
Equality for Deaf People
Date:
16 – 18 October 2013
Place:
Sydney, Australia
Website:
www.deafsocietynsw.org.au/centenary/
If you know about an upcoming conference or regional
or international interest, be sure to send us information
about it for our Calendar of Coming Events in WFD
newsletter and also in the website.
2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF IN SYDNEY
The World Federation of the Deaf announces that the Deaf Society of New South Wales has
received the right to host the next World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Conference in Sydney,
Australia in October 2013. The Conference theme will be "Equality for Deaf People". In
particular, progress in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
will be in the spotlight of the conference.
WFD Conferences are held in between the World Congresses. The last International Conference of
the World Federation of the Deaf was arranged in Finland in 2005.
Deaf Society of New South Wales:
World Federation of the Deaf:
www.deafsocietynsw.org.au
www.wfdeaf.org
17
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