GENVA, (Pakistan Point News - 16th Sep, 2018) The UAE Mission to the United Nations in Geneva participated in the International Day of Sign Languages in the United Arab Emirates Hall at the UN Headquarters here.
The function was held in collaboration with the Office of the Director-General of the UN, as part of the "Year of Zayed".
Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the UN in Geneva, delivered a speech following the screening of "Silent Child", a short film that impressively narrated the suffering of a deaf young girl that communicates solely in sign language.
Al-Zaabi underlined the significance of celebrating the International Day of Sign Languages in the Emirates Hall, which is equipped with the latest audio-visual, assistive technologies that allow People of Determination to participate in various conferences and events organised in the international organisation.
"The UAE leadership spares no effort in ensuring the general principle of equality and non-discrimination, allowing every person to enjoy his/ her full vested rights," he said, noting that the Emirates Hall is the only room in the United Nations premises in Geneva which is considered a disabled-friendly workplace with advanced assistive technology, apps and online tools that the disabled can utilise.
He noted that the people who use sign language in the UAE have been integrated into all ministries with the aim of involving them in contributing to the progress and prosperity of the country.
"The Cabinet adopted in May 2018 the UAE Sign Language Dictionary, which is the first of its kind in the country that is standardising the signs used by deaf people in UAE, compiling them in one reference book to unify the sign language across the country. The dictionary ensures the continuity and development of the sign language, and improve the educational level of its users," he added.
The Emirati Sign Language Dictionary is in line with UAE Vision 2021 and the National Agenda in maintaining a cohesive society and promoting an inclusive environment that integrates all segments of society while preserving the UAE's unique culture and heritage. The guide facilitates the exchange of knowledge between the members of society and those with hearing disabilities and harmony among them, and promote the linguistic identity of the Deaf community in the country and increase their pride in their homeland and their own language, derived from the local dialect.
Al Zaabi added that the UAE Government launched a national policy for empowering People of Determination. "The policy aims to create an inclusive society for them and their families, through services and facilities that accommodate their needs. It stipulates referring to people with special needs or disabilities as ‘People of Determination; assigning an official at every government institution that will be responsible for facilitating services for people with special needs; and setting up an advisory council which consists of Federal and local government entities and members of society who will provide their advice for achieving the goals of the national policy.
The national policy of empowering people of determination is based on 6 pillars: Health; Education; Outreach: Social Protection and Family Empowerment; and The Public life.
The one-day celebration included a reception for mentors teaching sign languages, a visit to the United Nations conducted in sign language and the screening of "Silent Child" in the presence of its scriptwriter, who also played the main role therein.
The one-day event was attended by a large number of UN officials, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organisation and experts of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as participants in the 39th session of the Human Rights Council currently convening in Geneva.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 23rd September as International Day of Sign Languages. The choice of 23rd September commemorates the date that the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in 1951. This day marks the birth of an advocacy organisation, which has as one of its main goals, the preservation of sign languages and deaf culture as pre-requisites to the realisation of the human rights of deaf people.
The first International Day of Sign Languages will be celebrated on 23rd September 2018 as part of the International Week of the Deaf.
