On behalf of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.
As an international non-governmental organisation, with national deaf federations of 132 country members, it is with great pride that the WFD has maintained a long-standing co-operation with the United Nations. Over the years, this close collaboration has yielded positive changes through UN Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It is now possible for the global Deaf Community to advocate for their human rights, particularly over the use of sign language in all aspects of their lives.
There are many shared values between the work of the United Nations and the WFD. Your pursuit of improving human rights is in tandem with the WFD’s mission to advance human rights for deaf people including recognition of sign languages.
Thank you for this partnership and we wish you continued success for many more years to come.
Colin Allen
President
World Federation of the Deaf