EUD asks for formal recognition of Italian Sign Language by the Italian State
During the EUD General Assembly yesterday, the EUD President Berglind Stefansdottir and Board Member Humberto Insolera officially handed the EUD support letter signed by delegates from 29 EUD member countries to Sebastiano Manciagli, the board member of the Italian Association of the Deaf.
This letter will be used to support the lobbying efforts undertaken by the Italian Association of the Deaf to see Italian Sign Language formally recognized and enshrined in law.
Please see below a copy of the support letter:
ITALIAN SIGN LANGUAGE RECOGNITION
The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) is seriously concerned about the recent developments aimed at the recognition of Lingua dei Segni Italiana [Italian Sign Language] (LIS). The recognition law is meeting strong opposition by the XII Social Affairs Committee at the Chamber of Deputies.
EUD strongly encourages the Italian legislators to cease immediately all measures aiming at decreasing the linguistic status of LIS. Undermining the status of LIS would have a serious impact on the Italian Deaf Community and their linguistic heritage.
EUD would like to highlight that Italy ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 3rd March 2009 (Legge 3 marzo 2009, n.18). The Convention states that protective measures including the recognition of sign languages must be taken (articles 21& 30).
Given that:
• The recognition of Italian Sign Language is proposed in Bill C.4207 Disposizioni per la promozione della piena partecipazione delle persone sorde alla vita collettiva e riconoscimento della lingua dei segni italiana (“Provision to promote the full participation of deaf people in public life and the recognition of Italian Sign Language”), which was passed unanimously in the Italian Senate on 16 March 2011.
• The proposal is now under the examination of XII Social Affairs Committee in the Chamber of Deputies. After three sessions, the last of which took place on 3 May 2011, the Bill has not only not been approved, but it is seriously put into question as it is clear from reading the Commission last session stenographic reports.
• The European Parliament has adopted two resolutions on sign languages (Doc A2-302/87 of 17 June 1988 and 18 November 1998 Doc B4---095/98).• The Council of Europe adopted Recommendation 1598 (2003) on the protection of sign languages in the Member States of the Council of Europe.
• The EUD approved the 2010 Brussels Declaration on Sign Languages in the European Union.
• Each citizen has the right to use the language they prefer without restrictions and discrimination. The right to one’s own language is crucial to access information on an equal footing with others.
• States should ensure the full participation of all deaf citizens in society by protecting their rights through specific legislation.
• The EU should support its Member States to take necessary legal measures to protect and promote the national sign language in order to achieve the objectives of the 2020 strategy, which aims to increase employment and ensure social inclusion in the European Union.
• The EU approved the Disability Strategy, which aims giving equal rights to all disabled citizens.
• Italian Sign Language, as other sign languages all over the world is a fully-fledged language presenting all features of a natural language.
• It is fully acknowledged and recognised by scientific researchers, linguists and other scholars worldwide.
• Recognising Italian Sign Language means to protect the rights belonging to a single person and guaranteed by Article 3 of the Italian Constitution.
• Recognising Italian Sign Language respects the civil rights, equality, and dignity of deaf people, as citizens of the Italian State.
We ask
Immediate approval of Bill C. 4207 as approved by the Italian Senate.
Formal recognition of Italian Sign Language by the Italian State.
