Today, while many of us use our voices to express our feelings without giving it a second thought, millions of people around the world use their hands, eyes, and facial expressions to portray their inner worlds. Today is a day to honor these living and meaningful languages.
The International Day of Sign Languages has been observed annually on September 23 since 2018. The date was chosen to commemorate the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf in 1951. The United Nations General Assembly recognized the day in 2017 to ensure that the voice of a community that has often remained on the margins of global conversations is heard.
This year, the day carries an even greater weight of meaning. The year 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf, and this year’s theme for International Week and Day of Sign Languages is “Declare the Human Rights of Deaf People.” This theme is not merely an official statement; it is a call to recognize a humanity that is sometimes overlooked amid the noise of the hearing world.
Statistics show that more than 70 million people worldwide are deaf and that they use more than 300 different sign languages. But behind these figures are simple, human stories: a child who dreams of having a teacher at school who understands their language, a mother who wants to communicate with her deaf child, and a young person who simply wants an equal opportunity in the job market, like anyone else.
The United Nations has repeatedly emphasized that sign language is not merely a means of communication, but an integral part of the identity and culture of the deaf community. According to the organization, early access to sign language education plays a vital and irreplaceable role in the development and flourishing of deaf people.
In Afghanistan, where educational infrastructure for people with disabilities still has a long way to go, this day can serve as a painful but necessary reminder: many deaf children across the country still do not have sign-language-trained teachers in their schools, and the voices of many of them are lost in the silence of society.
Ultimately, the International Day of Sign Languages is a simple yet profound invitation: Let us listen, even if not with our ears. Let us see the hands that speak and the hearts that long to be heard. No person should be deprived of the right to learn, to know, and to belong in this world because they cannot hear.
Sources: United Nations (UN); World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).
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