International Week of the Deaf is an initiative of the WFD and was first launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy. It is celebrated annually by the global Deaf Community on the last week of September each year to commemorate the same month the first World Congress of the WFD was held. International Week of the Deaf is celebrated through various activities by the respective Deaf Communities worldwide.

The activities call for participation and involvements of various stakeholders including families, peers, Governmental bodies, professional sign language interpreters and Organisations of persons with disabilities.

• International Week of the Deaf is the only week in a year that sees highly concerted global advocacy to raise awareness about the Deaf Community on different levels. It is about gathering together, becoming united, and showing that unity to the rest of the world.
• International Week of the Deaf strives to promote the human rights of deaf people and highlight topics that merit attention.
• International Week of the Deaf aims to call for unity from the rest of the world through consistent, coordinated and widespread mobilisation to ensure that the campaigns are visible through sufficient media coverage.

• 2009: Deaf People’s Cultural Achievements
• 2010: Deaf Education
• 2011: Accessibility to Information and Communication
• 2012: Sign Bilingualism is a Human Right!
• 2013: Equality for Deaf People
• 2014: Strengthening Human Diversity
• 2015: With Sign Language Rights, Our Children Can!
• 2016: With Sign Language, I am Equal.
• 2017: Full Inclusion with Sign Language!
• 2018: Everyone is included!
• 2019: Sign Language Rights for All