Deaf Federation welcomes sign language access in Parliament broadcasts
KATHMANDU: The National Federation of the Deaf Nepal has called on all concerned stakeholders to further strengthen collaboration to enhance information and communication access and inclusion for the deaf community.
Issuing a statement today, the Federation expressed happiness and pride over the recent introduction of sign language interpretation in the live broadcast of meetings of Nepal’s House of Representatives and the National Assembly from May 11 onwards.
The Federation noted that it had been advocating for a long time to ensure sign language interpretation in the live broadcasts of Federal Parliament proceedings so that the deaf community can stay informed about parliamentary activities.
Federation Chair Santosh K.C. said the achievement marks a significant milestone, stating that the successful implementation of sign language interpretation in live parliamentary broadcasts is a matter of great satisfaction, and extended congratulations to the entire deaf community.
According to the Federation, the inclusion of sign language interpretation in live parliamentary broadcasts will significantly improve access for the deaf community to key national processes such as policy discussions, budget presentations, lawmaking, and contemporary debates, enabling them to be directly informed and benefit from parliamentary activities.
The Federation also highlighted that the right to access information and communication for persons with disabilities is clearly guaranteed under the 2009 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Constitution of Nepal 2072, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2074.
Expressing gratitude, the Federation thanked the Speaker of the House of Representatives for actively supporting and facilitating the implementation of sign language interpretation in parliamentary live broadcasts, recognizing it as a meaningful step toward ensuring the right to information for the deaf community.
