For immediate release
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Helsinki, Finland

WFD-WASLI Joint Statement about the Sign Language
interpretation at Mandela’s memorial service
The memorial service for late South African President Nelson Mandela took place on Tuesday, 10 December
2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and the World Association ofSign Language Interpreters (WASLI) are concerned about the quality of sign language interpretation duringthat event.
The memorial service was followed on television by several deaf South Africans, who were disappointed on
the level of interpretation of this high level gathering. A board member of the WFD Youth Section, Braam
Jordaan described that the interpreter did not know South African Sign Language (SASL): "The structure of hishand, facial expressions and the body movement did not follow what the speaker was saying." He raised
concerns also how this interpreter was chosen to interpret without any professional qualifications, evaluations
and screening. Also the current WFD Vice-President Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen followed the event on
television and confirmed the poor level of sign language interpretation. She commented: "What is he signing?
He knows that the deaf cannot vocally boo him off. Shame on him." During the television broadcasting aproper sign language interpreter was provided on the left corner of the screen, which made it obvious that theinterpreter, who was present in the event, did not know SASL or any sign language at all.
WFD and WASLI would like to announce a public statement about the importance of quality interpreter
services in any public event. It is the responsibility of organisers to ensure that access to information isguaranteed for deaf audience. Article 21 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities(UNCRPD) points out that deaf people have a right to choose their form of communication and State Parties
shall ensure “accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages.. and all other accessible means ofcommunication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official interactions”. The same article continues
that State Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure recognizing and promoting the use of sign
languages. Further the Article 9 of UNCRPD requires "State Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure topersons with disabilities access on an equal basis with others.. to information and communications..." Thismeans professional sign language interpreters, who know the national sign language and deaf culture.
WFD and WASLI want to underline the need to co-operate with local Deaf organisations, in this case in South
Africa; stress the need for trained, qualified interpreters to be used, and the emphasis on the need for accessthat is based on direction from deaf people.

ENDS
About the World Federation of the Deaf
The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) is an international non-governmental organisation representing and promoting approximately
70 million deaf people's human rights worldwide. The WFD is a federation of 133 nations; its mission is to promote the human rights ofdeaf people and full, quality and equal access to all spheres of life, including self-determination, sign language, education, employmentand community life. WFD has a consultative status in the United Nations and is a member of International Disability Alliance (IDA).
(http://wfdeaf.org/)
About the World Association of Sign Language InterpretersWASLI’s goal is to promote and support the development of interpreters around the world. For example, some countries do not yet haveinterpreter associations or interpreter training, so WASLI works to encourage those countries to create national interpreter associations.
WASLI also work to promote strong working ties between national interpreter associations and national Deaf associations, in the same
way that WASLI and the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) work together. (http://wasli.org/)
Contact details:
WFD President, Colin Allen: wfdpresident@gmail.com
Tel: +61458125587 (Text Only)WASLI President, Debra Russell: president.wasli@gmail.com
Tel: +14036607764