The Legal Recognition of National Sign Languages

2014 – Albanian Sign Language (AlbSL) was officially recognised on December 3, 2014.

2016 – Angola’s disability law recognises and promotes Angolan Sign Language.

2023 – Argentina’s Law 27710 recognises Argentine Sign Language as a natural language and cultural heritage.

2005 – Austrian Sign Language was officially recognized by the Austrian Parliament.

2025 – An amendment to the law on people with disabilities has officially recognised Azerbaijani sign language.

2013 – Bangla Sign Language was officially recognised in Bangladesh in general disability law.

2022 – Belarus’s disability rights law includes provisions for recognising Belarusian Sign Language.

2003, 2006 and 2019 – Belgium has recognized its three regional sign languages: LSFB by the French Community, VGT in Flanders, and DGS by the German-speaking Community.

2009 – Bolivian Sign Language was officially recognised in Bolivia through an Executive Order 0328.

2009 – Bosnia and Herzegovina’s law recognised sign language as an official language.

2002 and 2005 – Brazil officially recognised Libras as a language, with implementation regulated by a decree.

2021 – Bulgaria officially recognised Bulgarian Sign Language through the Bulgarian Sign Language Act.

2019 – Accessible Canada Act recognises ASL, LSQ, and Indigenous sign languages as primary languages for Deaf persons.

2010 and 2021 – Chilean Sign Language was recognised in disability law 20.422 and further promoted by Law 21.303.

1996 – Colombian Sign Language was officially recognized, with further provisions in laws from 2002, 2005, and 2020.

2020 – The Law No. 9049 recognises the Costa Rican Sign Language.

2015 – Croatian Sign Language was officially recognised in 2015

2025 – This Law recognises Cuban Sign Language in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution in force since 2019 and the UN CRPD.

2006 – Cypriot Sign Language was officially recognised through the Cypriot Sign Language Recognition Law, making it an official language.

1998 and 2008 – Czech Sign Language was recognised through Law 155/1998, updated in 2008 to expand rights for deaf and deafblind people.

2014 – Danish Sign Language was officially recognised on May 13, 2014.

2023 – This law officially recognizes sign language as the primary means of communication for deaf people.

2008 and 2012 – Ecuadorian Sign Language was officially recognised in Ecuador through the Constitution, and then it was added to the disability law.

2014 – Salvadoran Sign Language was recognised by Decree 716 as a cultural heritage law.

2007 – The recognition is outlined in the Language Act, which acknowledges Estonian Sign Language as an independent language.

2018 – The Persons with Disabilities Act recognises the Swazi Sign Language as a language.

2013 and 2018 – Fijian Sign Language was officially recognised in the Constitution, and then in the disability law.

1995 and 2015 – Finnish Sign Language was recognised through Law 1995/969, and Finland-Swedish Sign Language was recognised in the Sign Language Act.

2002 – German Sign Language was officially recognised through the Federal Disability Equality Act.

2017 – Greece officially recognised Greek Sign Language on September 7, 2017.

2020 – Guatemala’s Decree 3-2020 officially recognises Guatemalan Sign Language as the communication means for Deaf and Deafblind people.

2013 – Honduran Sign Language was recognised in a sign language law.

2009 and 2011 – Hungarian Sign Language was officially recognised through Act CXXV and later included in the Constitution.

2011 – Icelandic Sign Language was officially recognized as a first language in general language legislation.

2016 – The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act recognises Indian Sign Language (ISL) as a crucial means of communication for the Deaf community.

2016 – The Act of the Republic of Indonesia Number 8 of 2016 recognises the Indonesian Sign Language.

2017 – The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 recognises Irish Sign Language as an official language.

2021 – Italy officially recognised Italian Sign Language on May 19, 2021.

2011 – Japanese Sign Language has been recognised in general disability law.

2010, 2019, 2023 and 2024 – Kenyan Sign Language is recognised under Article 7(3)(b) of the Kenyan Constitution, which mandates its promotion and development, alongside the Kenyan Sign Language Bill.

2010 and 2014 – Kosovar Sign Language was officially recognised by the Government of Kosovo.

1999 – Latvian Sign Language was officially recognised in Latvia through the Official Language Law of 1999.

1995 – This recognition has facilitated the integration of Lithuanian Sign Language into educational and public services.

2018 – Luxembourg officially recognised German Sign Language through the Law of September 23, 2018.

2019 – Malawi’s disability act recognised Malawi Sign Language.

2008 – Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia is recognised under the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008.

2016 – Malta officially recognised Maltese Sign Language through the Maltese Sign Language Recognition Act.

2015 – Marshallese Sign Language was recognised in general disability law of 2015.

2005 – Mexican Sign Language was officially recognised in Mexico through the General Law for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities.

2016 – Mongolia legally recognised sign language through the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

2004 – Namibian Sign Language was officially recognised in Namibia through the National Disability Council Act of 2004.

2015 and 2017 – Nepali Sign Language was officially recognised in the constitution, then in general disability legislation.

2020 – The Dutch Senate unanimously approved the Law on the Recognition of Dutch Sign Language as an official language.

2006 – New Zealand Sign Language was recognised as the third official language through the New Zealand Sign Language Act.

2009 – Nicaraguan Sign Language was legally recognised in 2009.

2009 – Macedonian Sign Language was officially recognised in North Macedonia in 2009.

2021 – Norway officially recognised Norwegian Sign Language as one of the country’s official languages through the Language Act.

1992 – Panama officially recognised Panamanian Sign Language as a natural language, marking a significant step for the deaf community.

2015 – Papua New Guinean Sign Language was officially recognised as an an official language of Papua New Guinea.

2020 – Paraguay officially recognised Paraguayan Sign Language through Law No. 6530/2020.

2010 – Peruvian Sign Language was officially recognised through Law No. 29535.

2018 – Republic Act No. 11106, the Filipino Sign Language Act, declares Filipino Sign Language as the national sign language of the Filipino Deaf.

2011 – Polish Sign Language was officially recognised in 2011.

1997 – Portuguese Sign Language was recognised via a constitutional amendment, ensuring its protection and use in education and equality.

2002 – Romanian Sign Language was recognised through the Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

2012 – Russian Sign Language is officially recognised as a means of interpersonal communication under Article 14 of the Federal Law on Social Protection of the Disabled.

2015 – The Serbian Parliament adopted the “Law on the Use of Sign Language”.

1995 – Slovakian Sign Language was recognised by law, supporting the deaf community’s identity and societal contribution.

2002 and 2021 – Slovenian Sign Language was recognised by law and added to the Constitution of Slovenia.

1996 and 2023 – South African Sign Language was legally recognised, and then it became the 12th official language of South Africa.

2015 – The National Assembly passed legislation that established Korean Sign Language as one of the country’s official languages.

2007 and 2010 – Spanish Sign Language was officially recognised in Spain through Law 27/2007. Catalan Sign Language was recognised in Catalunya in 2010.

1981, 2006 and 2009 – Swedish Sign Language was recognised in a government bill as the first language of Swedish deaf people.

2005 – Turkish Sign Language was officially recognised in disability law.

1995 – Uganda’s Constitution recognises Ugandan Sign Language, mandating its promotion and development for the deaf community.

2004, 2017 and 2019 – Ukranian Sign Language was recognised in the law to ensure the functioning of the Ukrainian language. This was also confirmed in the Ukrainian law on persons with disabilities.

2022 – British Sign Language was recognised through the British Sign Language Act 2022, legally acknowledging it in England, Scotland, and Wales.

2001 – Uruguayan Sign Language was recognised under Law 17.378.

2020 – The law on the rights of disabled people (law no. ZRU-641) recognises Uzbek Sign Language.

1999 and 2006 – Venezuelan Sign Language was recognised in the constitution, followed by the Law for Persons with Disabilities, which includes provisions for the deaf community.

2013 – Zimbabwe Sign Language was recognised in the Constitution.