efsli is represented at several events across Europe and beyond. Here you find an update on activities of the efsli board informing about the aims and objectives of efsli.
2011
EUDY General Assembly in Madrid
efsli project coordinator Lourdes Calle and efsli secretary Stéphane Gobert represented efsli at the EUDY General Assembly in Madrid. Download the press release >>>here.
2010
European Day of People with Disabilities Conference
Letter from efsli to the conference, 1 December 2010
Download the letter here
Dear Sir / Madam,
The European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (efsli) represents the interests of sign language interpreters in Europe, and does this in close cooperation with the European Union of the Deaf (EUD).
The European Day of People with Disabilities draws attention to the possibilities available to, but also to the barriers people with disabilities face to equal participation in European society. Sign language interpreters across Europe witness daily of the mobility and communication barriers for deaf people in Europe. Due to the national laws and regulations on accessibility, deaf people are unable to study or work abroad. In the majority of the European countries, they lose their right to a sign language interpreter as soon as they cross their national border. In addition, there are countries where deaf citizens do not even have the right to a sign language interpreter in education or employment, or there are simply not enough trained sign language interpreters. As a result deaf European citizens cannot equally participate in society.
The European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters therefore urges the European Commission to establish mobility regulations and policies for the provision of sign language interpreters in education and employment across member states. Deaf people should have the right to a sign language interpreter regardless of their nationality or the member where state they live, work, or study. An increase in the mobility for people with disabilities is essential as is mentioned in the new EU Disability Strategy 2010 – 2020.
We wish you a successful and fruitful conference.
Sincerely,
Maya de Wit
efsli president
Implementation of Sign Language Legislation Conference in Brussels, November 19 2010
More about the event
here
On Friday, November 19 2010, an historical event took place at the European Parliament in Brussels. Maya de Wit, the President of efsli and the efsli board had the honour to participate in the first Implementation of Sign Language Legislation Conference organised by the European Union of the Deaf and hosted by Dr Ádám Kósá, member of the European Parliament.
The main aim of the conference was to support the recognition of sign languages and sign language legislation in Europe, but moreover, to support and encorage the implementation of existing legislation. Because, the real work only starts after the revolution, as László T%u0151kés, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, said in his opening speech. Therefore, legislation and recognition cannot be the aim in itself, but should be followed by better services improving access to education, public life, employment etc. By having a pioneering Deaf person as a Member in the European Parliament and the first Deaf people as Members of Parliaments of European Member States, the Deaf community has taken the first steps of the thousand miles journey as expressed by Markku Jokinen, the President of WFD.
Use of sign language is a basic human right and access to the information in one’s own language is one of the main principles of democracy within Europe. Equal access and a barrier-free Europe for sign language users is mainly provided through quality interpreting services provided by trained and qualified sign language interpreters. But the recognition of sign languages does not only mean the right to use sign languages without restrictions, it also leeds to the support of research and the development of the languages as well as the promotion and appreciation of the culture of which the language is an integral part.
The presenters of the conference were Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, Ildikó Bernáth, Ministerial Commissioner for Disability in Hungary, Berglind Stefánsdóttir, President of the EUD, Markku Jokinen, President of the WFD, Maya de Wit, President of efsli, Liz Scott Gibson, President of WASLI, Mark Wheatley, Executive Director of the EUD, Csilla Bartha from Eötvös Loránd University and Research Institute for Linguistics, Helga Stevens, Member of the Flemish Parliament in Belgium and Member of the Senate at the Belgian Federal Parliament, Dr Gergely Tapolczai, Member of the Hungarian Parliament and Professor Patricia Shores-Hermann from Zürich University of Applied Sciences of Special Needs Education.
They described the best practices in Europe, different ways to sign language legislation and what happens after the legislation is already in place and what steps must be taken when the party is over. There are examples in Europe where legislation has opened the doors for different services as well as examples where accessibility for Deaf people and the right to communicate in their own language is restricted despite of the existing laws and acts. Therefore, the need for continuous lobbying was stressed. The call for unified minimum standards to set up in the EU for the education and for the services provided to sign language users was also expressed by the presenters as well as by the audience. As for interpreting services, the more professional that the interpreters are the better access for the sign language users that can be provided. Therefore the minimum standard for sign language interpreters should be a bachelor’s degree in addition to language proficiency and cultural knowledge, suggested Professor Shores-Hermann.
The conference concluded with the signing of a Brussels Declaration by Dr. Ádám Kósá, the Presidents of EUD, efsli, WFD, WASLI and the representatives of the National Associations of the Deaf. The Brussels Declaration on Sign Languages in the EU is a document containing demands regarding education, sign language interpreting, employment and other areas. Among other things it states that indigenous national sign languages are native languages of sign language users, and sign languages as well as Deaf Culture are one of the pillars of the Sign Language Using Community, there they must be protected and promoted nationally and regionally. Communicating and using a native language is a fundamental human right and every sign language user must have the right to use their native sign language without restriction or disrimination. Sign language users must have equal access to public life, education, and employment and this full participation must be promoted and protected through legislation.
The aim of the document is to make the policy makers aware of the needs of the Deaf Community as well as give the Deaf leaders a document to achieve recognition at national level.
After the conference, a book Sign Language Legislation in the European Union, written by the EUD in co-operation with the National Associations of the Deaf and National Associations of the Sign Language Interpreterswas launched. It is the first comprehensive study of legislation relating to sign languages in EU and its member states. The book includes an overview of legislation at UN and EU level as well as the existing legislation regarding the sign languages of each EU country. The descriptions of the countries also include the national sign languages, the estimated number of its users and the latest figures of registered sign language interpreters. The book shows that the sign languages used in Europe are mentioned in and recognised by a number of different laws and documents including constitutions, disability laws, educational acts, and language laws, some countries even have separate acts or laws for sign language.
After the conference the efsli board also participated in the EUD 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner during which many fond memories from the previous Presidents and board members of EUD were shared including historical videos and photos, and chats with Deaf people from all around Europe. In her wonderful greeting speech Maya de Wit, the President of efsli gave the EUD our openness, our experiences and our hearts on a way we walk which we undertake together.
EUD Seminar
Madrid, 22 May 2010
On May 22nd the seminar of the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) took place in Madrid, Spain. Maya de Wit, efsli president, participated in the seminar.Read report here
2009
The language industry in the European Union
Brussels, 27 November 2009
On 27 November 2009 the EU Directorate General for Translation (DGT) held a conference for the presentation of the “Study on the size of the language industry in the EU”. Maya de Wit, efsli president, was invited to participate in the meeting on behalf of efsli.Read report here
November 26th - Founding meeting of the European Legal Interpreters and Translators Association (EULITA)
Took place in Antwerp, Belgium. During the last two years an EU funded project team, coordinated by the Lessius Hogeschool in Antwerp, had the task of establishing this new association.Read report here
New Croatian law on Sign Language and interpreting services
Croatia, 17 March 2009
DODIR, the association of deafblind people in Croatia, organised a round table meeting to discuss the content of the new proposed law on the recognition of Croatian Sign Language and related services for deaf and deafblind people.
Many participants from responsible ministries, representatives from deaf and deafblind organisations, educational institutions, and people who are deaf or deafblind, attended this important event. In addition DODIR invited Linda Erikson, a teacher at an interpreter educational program in Sweden, and deafblind herself. Maya de Wit, efsli president, has been invited to participate and present as well.Please read her report.
More information on DODIR: www.dodir.hr
Formal opening of the AIIC general meeting
The international organization for conference interpreters (AIIC) invited efsli to participate in their general meeting in Nice (France).
Maya de Wit, efsli president, took part at this event. Please read her report.
More information on AIIC can be found at: www.aiic.net
2008
European Union of the Deaf conference
Lyons, 29 November 2008The European Union of the Deaf held their conference in Lyons, France, on 29 November 2008. The conference was hosted by the Lyons Deaf association and the French Association of the Deaf. Delegates from the associations of the Deaf across Europe, deaf people from Lyons, and anyone who was interested took part in the conference. The conference room was full with enthusiastic participants.Maya de Wit, efsli president, took part at this event. Please read her report.More information on EUD can be found at:www.eud.eu
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