World Federation of the Deaf

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) is an international non-governmental organization that acts as a peak body for national associations of Deaf people, with a focus on Deaf people who use sign language and their friends and family. WFD aims to promote the rights of Deaf people worldwide, by working closely with the United Nations (with which it has consultative status) and various UN agencies such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). WFD is also a member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA).

The current 11 board members are all deaf. The offices are located in Helsinki, Finland.

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Aims and objectives

The WFD describe their priorities as:

• Improving the status of national sign languages
• Better education for Deaf people
• Improving access to information and services
• Improving human rights for Deaf people in developing countries
• Promoting the establishment of Deaf organisations where none currently exist

Constituency

The WFD claims to represent 70 million deaf people worldwide, of which more than 80 percent live in developing countries. This is done mainly through membership of national deaf organisations, where such organisations exist. As of 2006, 128 national associations are members. Associate members, international members and individual members also make up WFD’s membership base.

History

The WFD was established in September 1951 in Rome, Italy, at the first World Deaf Congress, under the auspices of Ente Nazionale Sordomuti (ENS), the Italian Deaf Association. The first president of WFD was Professor Vittorio Ieralla, who was also, at that time, president of the ENS. The congress was attended by representatives from 25 countries.

World Congress

The World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf has been held every four years since 1951. Organised by the WFD and the host country, this event is attended by thousands of Deaf people from all over the world. As well as convening the General Assembly (the highest decision-making body of the WFD) and forming the guidelines for the next four years of its work, the congress holds a large cultural program including theatre performances, cinema, exhibitions, performing arts, visits to local places of interest.

World Congresses have been held at:

• XI — July 1991 — 11th World Congress, Tokyo, Japan
• XII — 1995 — 12th World Congress, Vienna, Austria
• XIII — July 1999 — 13th World Congress, Brisbane, Australia
• XIV — July 2003 — 14th World Congress, Montreal, Canada
• XV — July 2007 — 15th World Congress, Madrid, Spain

Forthcoming:

• XVI — July 2011 — 16th World Congress, Durban, South Africa