United Nations Observes International Day of Sign Languages 2025 on 23 September.

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is observed annually on 23 September to promote the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of deaf people and sign language users worldwide. In 2025, it is celebrated as part of the International Week of Deaf People (IWDP) from 22 to 28 September.

      - The theme for IDSL 2025 is “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights”, emphasizing the recognition of sign language as a fundamental human right essential for equality and inclusion of the deaf community.

      - The IDSL was proposed by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), which represents 135 national associations of deaf people globally. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) officially adopted Resolution A/RES/72/161 on 19 December 2017, designating 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages.

      - The first IDSL was observed on 23 September 2018, integrated into the International Week of the Deaf (IWDP), which was originally launched in September 1958 to raise awareness about deaf rights, culture, and inclusion. The date also commemorates the founding of the WFD in 1951.

Main Point :-   (i) The Blue Ribbon represents the deaf community’s persistent efforts for equality, recognition, and the promotion of national sign languages across the world.

      (ii) Globally, the WFD organized the ‘Global Leader Challenges 2025’ on 23 September as part of the observance.

(iii) In India, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPWD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), celebrated IDSL 2025 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.