Launched at the 1999 World's Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, the color blue in the ribbon is based on the WFD's official colors.

• The ribbon is a symbol of deaf people’s on-going struggles against oppression and centuries of attempts to abolish sign languages.
• The blue ribbon also symbolises the persistence of deaf people in the face of oppression and growth of deaf communities around the world.
• The ribbon stands as a symbol of ongoing resistance by deaf people and our allies against attempts to eradicate sign languages.
• The ribbon is also a celebration of our creation of spaces for sign languages and the many unique and diverse signing communities around the world today.

For more information on the Blue Ribbon, see Paddy Ladd (2003) Understanding Deaf Culture:  In Search of Deafhood, pp. 469-471.

• January 2021: "The Journey towards Inclusive Bilingual Sign Language Schools!"

• February 2021: "Organising synergies between National Associations of the Deaf and National Sign Language Interpreters Associations"

• March 2021: "Deaf Women Leaders in National Deaf Associations and Youth Boards: Issues and Success Stories"

• April 2021: "Inclusive Employment: Lessons from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda"

• June 2021: "The Journey towards Inclusive Employment"

• August 2021: "How to unlock the potential of Sign Language Rights"

• September 2021: "70th anniversary in Rome, Italy"

• October 2021: "Let us teach our sign languages! Deaf people vindicating their expertise in teaching their sign languages"

• November 2021: "Intersectionality: Learning About our Diverse Deaf Communities"

• December 2021: "Deaf Rights During Disasters: Humanitarian Action and Deaf People"