The WFD hosted for the first time in its history a Pre-Conference event on Deaf Women’s Rights and Leadership titled “Strengthening Gender Diversity in Deaf Organisations”, as part of the WFD International Conference 2025. Over the course of two days, deaf leaders from around the world came together to share powerful testimonies, research, and practical strategies for overcoming systemic barriers to equality at the intersection of gender, cultural, and linguistic identities. The event had presenters from Zambia, India, Sweden, Kenya, France, Germany and Spain, who highlighted how deaf women are building change in their communities – despite facing intersecting challenges related to lack of access, information, and visibility.
Ms Kamukwamba, a Senior Lecturer and Board Member of the Zambia National Association of the Deaf, in her presentation illustrated the severe consequences deaf women face when information and education are not provided in sign language and highlighted the consequences of language deprivation. Her presentation also detailed how communication barriers limit access to health care, education, employment, and community life – often leading to poor health outcomes, economic dependency, and increased vulnerability to violence. Lastly, she called for solutions rooted in empowerment, education, and policy reform.
Ms Sonni, Founder of the Deaf Can Foundation (DCF), shared her experiences in empowering hundreds of deaf women across India through education, legal advocacy, job training, and community building. DCF, a deaf women-led organisation, has become a hub for accessible resources, rights-based education, and self-sufficiency projects in underserved areas. Through her work, she demonstrated how deaf women-led initiatives can shift and impact societal attitudes and create long-lasting changes.
The WFD, represented by Board Member Hjordis Haraldsdottir, introduced an international approach and presented the WFD’s perspectives on women’s rights and gender equality, focusing on SDG #5. She also hosted a panel of representatives from six deaf organisations, who reflected on the unique challenges deaf women encounter in leadership positions within organisations. The panellists shared their insights, experiences, and strategies to advance and empower deaf women in leadership roles.
In addition to these presentations, the Pre-Conference welcomed the following speakers:
- Ms Inna Shparber (Germany): Presented feminist participatory action research on deaf Ukrainian women displaced by war and how new environments have sparked feminist reflection and resilience.
- Ms Naiara Larrakoetxea (Spain): Shared how deaf women in Spain created self-managed feminist spaces to push back against marginalisation in both deaf and mainstream feminist movements.
- Ms Laure Abdelmoumeni (France/Canada): Reflected on deaf women’s identity and activism, prompted by the #metoosourd movement. Her doctoral research examines collective claims and intersectional struggle from a deaf feminist perspective.
At the conclusion of the Pre-Conference, participants were warmly welcomed to a reception hosted by the Embassy of Sweden, the main sponsor of the event, which is the first international deaf event led by and focused specifically on the rights of deaf women. It provided an opportunity for participants to connect in an informal setting, share knowledge and experiences, reflect on the day’s discussions, and strengthen networks across countries and organisations
