It is with great joy and pride that the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) announces the presentation of an honorary Doctor of Laws honoris causa to WFD Honorary President Mr. Markku Jokinen by the Gallaudet University. The ceremony will take place in Washington, DC, USA on 11th of May 2012.

Markku Jokinen, a long time international deaf leader who served as the WFD president from 2003 to 2011, will be the keynote speaker at the 143rd Annual Commencement of the Gallaudet University.

The Finnish human rights advocate whose role as one of the key negotiator of the WFD during the ad hoc meetings and negotiations resulting in the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the fourth WFD President to receive this honorary after Dr. Yerker Andersson (1st WFD Honorary President), Dr. Liisa Kauppinen) (2nd WFD Honorary President) and Dr Vittorio Ieralla. Jokinen joins an impressive list of other prominent personalities with strong WFD background that have been conferred Honorary Doctorates from Gallaudet, such as Dr Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen, Dr Knud Søndergaard and Dr Cesare Magarotto.