The International Week of the Deaf (IWD) is an initiative of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and was first launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy. It is celebrated annually by the global Deaf Community during  the last full week of September to commemorate the same month the first World Congress of the WFD was held. The International Week of the Deaf is celebrated through various activities by Deaf Communities all around the world. These activities and events welcome the participation of all members of deaf communities, which include families of deaf people, professional and accredited sign language interpreters, peers, as well as the involvement of various stakeholders such as national governments, national and international human rights organizations, and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities.

The theme of the 2020 International Week of the Deaf will be “Reaffirming Deaf People’s Human Rights” This year, we want all stakeholders to unite in endorsement of the need to secure and promote the human rights of deaf people! Affirm your support for full human rights for all deaf people by signing the WFD Charter on Sign Language Rights for All!

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