Our Story
A History for a Philosophy
Advocating for the rights of deaf people around the world since 1951
Founded on 23 September 1951 in Rome, Italy, following the first World Congress of delegates from 25 national deaf associations, the World Federation of the Deaf emerged in response to the barriers that deaf people face in achieving full accessibility, equal human rights, and participation in political decisions affecting their lives. The WFD is one of the oldest international organisations of persons with disabilities in the world.
Since the late 1950s, we have collaborated closely with the United Nations and its agencies. Notably, we played a significant role in the creation and advancement of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006, the CRPD remains a cornerstone of the WFD’s efforts, as it actively supports its implementation and encourages member states to ratify the convention.
Today, the WFD unites national associations of deaf people from every continent, reflecting its global presence and commitment to advocating for the rights of all deaf people around the world.
Our history
The World Federation of the Deaf is one of the oldest international organisations of persons with disabilities in the world.
Go backOn September 23, 1951, delegations from 25 countries meet in Rome, Italy, to create the World Federation of the Deaf. Mr Vittorio Ieralla (Italy) is elected as WFD President.
International Day of the Deaf is first celebrated. Later the Day extends to an International Week of the Deaf. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) grants WFD consultative status.
The United Nations and the World Health Organisation both grant WFD consultative status which means the WFD is the lead representative body for deaf people at the international level.
18th WFD Board meeting held in the UN headquarters in the United States
A motion was passed for the WFD to be governed by deaf persons because at this time the delegates were mostly hearing without sign language
The Declaration of Rights of Persons with Hearing Impairment (hearing impaired is an old term) was supported by the 8th WFD General Assembly to proclaim their rights to communicate and barriers to be removed.
WFD had 67 ordinary members.
Creation of the first WFD Regional Secretariat. It was focused on Asia and the Pacific.
The 11th WFD World Congress, held in Tokyo, Japan, was the largest ever (7,845 participants) and the first to be held in Asia.
The UN Secretary-General Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali awarded the WFD a testimonial in recognition of dedicated service in support of the UN programme on disability
This is the first time in UN history a deaf person used sign language to address the UN from the General Assembly presenter platform
WFD has 100 ordinary members with the affiliation of OM Benin
WFD’s Youth Section (WFDYS) is founded in Austria, July 1995
WFD has 6 regional secretariats: South America, Arab Region, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Middle Asia, Asia, Pacific
First International WFD Conference – smaller scale than the World Congress – is held in Helsinki, Finland in conjuction with the Finnish Association of the Deaf’s 100th anniversary
The United Nations adopts the CRPD and includes sign language rights 5 times for the first time in a United Nations treaty.
WFD Honorary President Liisa Kauppinen received the 2013 UN Human Rights Award for her human rights work within the deaf community on the day of the Human Rights Day in the UN headquarters, the first Nordic person to receive this kind of award
The United Nations declared 23 September as International Day of Sign Languages. The Ambassador of Antigua-Barbuda proposed and sponsored the United Nations resolution which led to the establishment of the International Day of Sign Languages.
120th WFD Board meeting online held first time in history, due COVID-19 pandemic
Key documents for Deaf communities: the Milan Congress, 1880 is documented on the Memory of the World International Register by the UNESCO, Memory of the World
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