World Federation of the Deaf Review Paper Example

Introduction

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) is a global nonprofit and non-government organization of the deaf memberships from different nations. Therefore, this paper describes the purpose, history, traditions, and values of WFD and the values that the organization brings to the deaf community. It also examines various ways in which hearing people can contribute to the success of this organization. More importantly, the paper identifies barriers to success of this organization and how the organization can become more successful.

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Purpose

One of the major purposes of WFP is to empower their members. The organization works jointly with its partners and members to transform its world into a more equitable environment by carrying out human rights and capacity building trainings and projects in in collaboration with its country members. The second purpose of the organization is to promote international advocacy. Mostly, deaf people are hardly accorded the chance to participate governance and decision making even in issues affecting them directly. Therefore, WFP promotes the principles of the Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) and vision 2030 by participating in conferences and events to represent the WFD and the entire disability fraternity, collaborate with US and other international groups, governments and partners to make sure that CRPD is clearly understood, implemented, respected, and appropriately monitored. The third purpose of WFP is to ensure accessibility. To achieve this, the organization lobbies for the provision of universal sign in the UN webcasted programs and ensure accessibility globally, lobbies the UN and other concerned parties to translate written resources into international sign, develops and distribute position papers, statements and other essential documents to emphasize views of WFD regarding the benefit of accessible information.

History

Principally, the World Federation of the Deaf is among the oldest global agencies of individuals with disabilities across the globe. Appreciating the fact that deaf persons across the world experience barriers to equal human rights, full accessibility, and taking part making policy decisions that influence them, the WFD was formed in Rome Italy on September 1951.

Reportedly, the first World Congress was attended only by delegates from twenty five national agencies of the deaf. However, currently, the organization's membership encompasses delegates from 135 countries across five continents. Since its inception, the organization has worked and partnered with the UN and its agencies. Recently, the World Federation of the Deaf has remained critical in advocating for and establishing the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disability that was enacted by the UN general assembly in the year 2006 and exercised in the year 2008. Presently, the WFD remains one of the leading organizations actively involved in the CRPD adoption, monitoring, as well as, enhancing its endorsement by member states.

Traditions

Human rights based approach is one of the leading traditions of WFD. The organization establishes its activities towards ensuring equal opportunities and full participation in communities for deaf persons in every nation. Respect for linguistic differences is another tradition of WFD. Reportedly, the organization works untiringly to ensure recognition, respect, and promotion of sign language as a critical component of human diversity and aims at enhancing the image of national languages across countries. Some other critical traditions of WFD as stated in their website encompass leadership of deaf persons, accessible and inclusive society, as well as, cooperation, trust, and partnership.

Values

Respect is one of the key values that WFD upholds. The organization respects its partners, members, as well as, donors and encourages them to share their ideas and views to ensure accountability and development. The second value is equality. Reportedly, the organization is devoted to promoting equality on its work. In fact, everyone should be treated equality irrespective of his or her gender, religion, race, language, sexual orientation, age, or culture. Besides equality, WFD values diversity because it values and respects the varied diversity of human beings and inculcates this into its work. Impartiality and professionalism are other critical values of WFD. Reportedly, every decision and work that the organization does are based on cautious consideration of facts and directed by the fundamental principles and the existing laws. It also works jointly and fairly to attain its goals based on its experiences and abilities.

Values That WFD Adds To the Deaf Community

Indisputably, human rights are indivisible, universal and interrelated. In fact, they belong to everyone irrespective of gender, color, ethnic origin, language, religion or any other condition including deafness or disability. Sadly, because of the societal biases and wrong assumptions, the rights of deaf persons are often ignored or violated particularly in developing nations. For this reason, WFD advocates and improves human rights of deaf persons especially in deaf culture, sign languages, linguistic identity, bilingual education, accessibility, equal participation, and equal employment opportunities. Therefore, by advocating for the human rights and access to sign language, the WFD adds value to the lives of many deaf persons across the world that experience inequality almost on a daily basis.

Barriers to the Success of WFD

Lack of support is one of the leading barriers to the success of the World Federation of the Deaf. Teachers, parents, and specialist staff of the organization hardly receive adequate resources from local and international authorities to be able to support deaf persons. An invisible disability is another barrier that hinders the success of WFD. At times, deafness is invisible when local and international agencies...