This year’s commemoration is being observed under the theme, “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights”, which calls for action to make deaf people’s human rights a reality in all areas of life, including ensuring full access through national sign languages.

The UN says the day highlights the importance of recognising, protecting and promoting the rights of deaf people globally.

According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide, with more than 80% living in developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages.

The UN says sign languages are fully fledged natural languages and are structurally distinct from spoken languages. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognises sign languages as equal in status to spoken languages and calls for their recognition and promotion.

This year’s International Day of Sign Languages also coincides with two significant milestones for the global deaf community.

The year 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the World Federation of the Deaf and 20 years since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The UN says the Convention has played an important role in advocacy, driving change, shaping policies and strengthening the recognition of national sign languages.

The UN says that while the milestones celebrate decades of progress made by deaf communities in advancing their rights, they also serve as a call for greater action to accelerate the full realisation of deaf people’s human rights.

International Day of Sign Languages is observed annually on September 23 and forms part of the International Week of Deaf People, which is being observed from  September 21 to 27, 2026 under the same theme.

–ChannelAfrica/WendyMothata–