WFD Newsletter September 2012.Indd
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WWFD F D NEEWSLETTERWSLETTER NEWSLETTER OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF SEPTEMBER 2012 100th WFD BOARD MEETING IN LOUISVILLE AN INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION WITH1 A SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE STATUS IN THE UNITED NATIONS We welcome all news, articles, letters to the editor, and other contributions. We reserve the right of acceptance or rejection and the right to edit all submissions that we publish. Please send all correspondence to: World Federation of the Deaf PO Box 65 00401 Helsinki Finland E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS Layout Anja Hurtamo The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in 1951 during the fi rst World 3 PRESIDENT'S COLUMN Congress in Rome, Italy. The WFD today con- 8 WFD BOARD PROFILE tinues to be an ever-expanding umbrella or- 9 INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF DEAF ganisation providing a wide range of support and advocacy services for 133 national associ- 10 WFD YOUTH SECTION ations of the deaf, representing approximately 11 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 70 million deaf people worldwide. 14 NEWS FROM WFD MEMBERS AND PARTNERS 17 ITEMS OF INTEREST The mission of the WFD is to promote the human rights of deaf people and full, quality 19 BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS and equal access to all spheres of life, includ- 20 WFD MERCHANDISE ing self-determination, sign language, educa- 21 COMING EVENTS tion, employment and community life. The philosophy of the WFD is one of equality, hu- 22 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP man rights and respect for all people, regard- less of race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual Front cover: preference, age and all other human qualities. WFD and National Association of the Deaf (NAD) The WFD also provides a platform for global Board members cooperation and information exchange among its members and partners. As an international WFD President Colin Allen giving his opening speech non-governmental organisation, the WFD has at the Louisville Baseball Stadium a special consultative status in the United Na- Photos: Colin Allen tions (UN) system, where it is represented at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), WFD President Colin and Vice President Wilma the Educational Scientific and Cultural Organ- Newhoudt-Druchen with Dr. Jack and Mrs. Rosalyn isation (UNESCO), the International Labour Gannon Organisation (ILO), and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WFD has par- Signing the contract for the WFD World Congress ticipatory status with the Council of Europe between WFD and Turkish National Federation of the Deaf (TNFD) at the NAD General Assembly (CoE), cooperates closely with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and has rep- NAD delegates waving hands for signing of the resentatives on the UN Standard Rules for the contract between WFD and TNFD Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and is a member of the In- Photos: Blair Rasmus ternational Disability Alliance (IDA). 2 PRESIDENT´SPRESIDENT´S COLUMNCOLUMN Welcome to this edition of the WFD Newsletter. I have been receiving very valuable feedback from readers who enjoyed the last edition of the newsletter. I am writing this column today from New York City where I am attending international meetings, representing the World Federation of the Deaf. The meetings are: • Governance Board of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) • Civil Society Forum on the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Forum hosted by IDA, with the support of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs • 5th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD I am not the only one representing WFD at these events. I am very pleased to have other colleagues here too; Ms Jenny Nilsson, President of the WFD Youth Section and Dr Joseph Murray, WFD Board Member. Also Dr Debra Russell, President of the World Association Sign Language Interpreters, whom I invited to join me in New York City to see the work that WFD is doing with other groups such as IDA at the international level. In next issue of the WFD Newsletter, I will report back to you all with detailed outcomes of the events. WFD Board members at the 100th Board meeting in Louisville, USA It is my great pleasure to share WFD’s accomplishments Photo: Blair Rasmus over the last two months, and I do hope you enjoy reading about what we have been doing. I wish to provide you with a brief overview of the Board Meeting. The WFD Board was very pleased to The WFD Board had its 100th Board Meeting in see a number of important people attending our board Louisville, Kentucky as a part of the National Association meeting, including: of the Deaf (USA NAD)’s 51st Biennial Conference. All of us on the WFD Board have not forgotten the • Dr and Mrs Yerker and Nancy Andersson – wonderful hospitality that USA NAD extended to us WFD Honorary President during our stay in Louisville. We especially enjoyed celebrating Independence Day on 4th July with a cruise • Dr and Mrs Mervin and Carol Garretson – with a group of 300 friends. WFD Honorary Board Member Dr Bobbie Beth Scoggins, USA NAD President, and • Dr Donalda Ammons – Former President of Mr Howard Rosenblum, USA NAD Chief Executive International Committee of Sports for the Deaf Offi cer, provided welcoming remarks at the joint WFD- USA NAD Board dinner hosted by the USA NAD. USA • Dr and Mrs Jack and Rosalyn Gannon – NAD also worked hard with great dedication to raise Recipient of the WFD 1st Class Award for some wonderful fi nancial support for WFD through writing the WFD: A History book fundraising events during the conference – further information about their efforts will be announced shortly. • Dr Roslyn Rosen, WFD Honorary Member Ms Jenny Nilsson also represented the WFD Youth Section during the board meeting. It is always valuable to have a youth perspective brought to our discussions as we consider the future direction of the Deaf Community globally. 3 The items we discussed at the board meeting were: Western Central Africa region. WCARS have formed a Board of seven people (President and six Board 2013 Budget members) and the WFD Board wishes to congratulate the new Board on their commitment to the goal of The Board unanimously approved the budget for 2013 achieving Deaf Human Rights in Western Central but it is rather a challenge to run the General Secretariat Africa. Team. The number of staff members will be reduced from three to two. There are a number of reasons for this, one of which is that WFD has not received all the Expert Groups annual membership fees from our current members. In fact, only 40 out of 133 members have paid. The WFD The WFD has received a large number of applications Board has requested me as WFD President to approach from people who have expressed interest in becoming each current ordinary member that has not paid their members of our Expert Groups and Special Interest annual membership fee. Annual fees are an important Groups. However, the WFD Board has decided to part of supporting our work for the 70 million deaf extend the deadline date to attract more applicants to people around the world. fi ll a few gaps within the groups. It is envisaged that we will announce the fi nal list of members for each group WFD has submitted a request for to the Finnish in the next edition of the WFD Newsletter. Government for continuing funding to support our works in 2013 which have received 50,000€ per year Draft Co-operation Agreement with International for last three years, but at the time of writing this Committee of Sports for the Deaf newsletter, we have received the sad news that they have declined our request. This has prompted me to make The WFD and ICSD have developed a draft cooperation the decision to travel to attend meetings with Finnish agreement between the two organisations but it has Members of Parliament next month because they have not been fi nalised yet. We intend to complete this by the power to make small additions to the State Budget the end of the year, strengthening solidarity within the in December. Deaf Community around the world. Again WFD would like to acknowledge the generous XVII World Congress of the World Federation of contribution of the Finnish Association of the Deaf, the Deaf – Istanbul, Turkey which has waived rental costs for our offi ce, located in the Finnish Association of the Deaf building and More inspiration for the WFD Board came from the has also decided to support fi nancially the General President of the Turkish National Federation of the Secretariat in 2013. Deaf (TNFD) Mr Ercüment Tanriverdi. TNFD and WFD have completed the contract for hosting the 17th As WFD President, it is critical for the WFD Board and World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf General Secretariat Team to work very hard to seek for in the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The dates have been generous donations or fi nancial support to continue our formally confi rmed:- work. It is still necessary to raise approximately 40,000€ Euro for 2013 to run the WFD General Secretariat with two Staff members. 25 July 2015 WFD Ordinary Members’ Workshop Any donation in support of our work, small or large, is 26-27 July very welcome. Part of my personal contribution is to 2015 19th WFD General Assembly take on the voluntary role of President, and to work in my own time for deaf people around the world! I invite 28 July 2015 Opening Ceremony of the XVII you too to make your own contribution to the work of World Congress of the World WFD. Federation of the Deaf If you do decide to support WFD’s work, fi nd out how 28 Jul y - to donate here: www.wfdeaf.org/take-action-2/donate- 2 August 2015 XVII World Congress of the World us Federation of the Deaf Formal Establishment of the Western Central 2 August 2015 Closing Ceremony of the XVII World African Regional Secretariat Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf It was a moving event when the WFD Board adopted the formal establishment of the Western Central We were honoured to have the opportunity for both African Regional Secretariat (WCARS).