International Day of Sign Languages: why September 23 matters

Every year on September 23, the world observes International Day of Sign Languages with enthusiasm and respect. The day was launched by the United Nations General Assembly as a key part of International Week of the Deaf. The date itself has a historical reason: on this day in 1951, the World Federation of the Deaf was established, an international body that has fought a long battle for the human rights and linguistic rights of deaf people.

By officially recognising the day, the United Nations has sent the message that just as spoken language is essential, sign language expressed through hand and facial gestures is equally rich and important. On this occasion, schools, colleges, government offices and voluntary organisations run various workshops, cultural programmes, discussion sessions and digital campaigns.

There are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide, who use over 300 different local and national sign languages. Sign language is not merely a set of gestures, it is in itself an independent, grammatically rich and fully developed natural language. This language forms the core foundation of the deaf community's daily life, education, employment and social existence.

The day carries an important lesson not just for deaf people but for society as a whole. It teaches that spoken words alone are not needed to express oneself and convey feelings to others. Gestures, the language of the eyes and hand movements can convey one's mind just as effectively. The deaf community has its own distinct culture, built on self-respect, equality and mutual cooperation.

Even in today's modern era, deaf people in many countries face difficulty accessing proper education, treatment and good employment opportunities. A major reason for this is the lack of awareness and spread of sign language in society. If sign language interpreters were present in government offices, hospitals, courts, TV news and educational institutions, deaf people could join the mainstream of society without any hindrance. It is only when a deaf citizen can express themselves in their own language without any fear that the true meaning of freedom of expression is fulfilled. Giving sign language legal recognition and promoting its teaching in schools opens the path to development that carries everyone along.

The main purpose of International Day of Sign Languages is to spread wide awareness in society. This day reminds us that deaf people should be seen not with pity but with equality. It is the moral responsibility of all of us to respect and spread sign language so that everyone gets the right to live with dignity and express themselves without discrimination. If all of us learn the basic lessons of sign language and include it in our daily lives, we can build a society where no one is left isolated for lack of communication. Language should connect, not divide, and sign language is a beautiful and strong bridge connecting two different worlds.