Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
allAfrica.com: Uganda: Reinstate Signography On UBC (Page 1 of 1)
Uganda is on track as a model country worldwide for championing the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). This is because it was the first country in the world to have sign language within its national constitution of 1995, an elected deaf Member of Parliament (MP), five MPs with disability in Parliament, sign language interpretation (signography) during the news hour at 8:00pm for the deaf and is a party to many human rights treaties including the United Nation Convection on PWDs ratified on March 30 in New York.
However, it is two years since the former UTV now UBC phased out the simultaneous sign language interpretation for the deaf viewers on its waves. I think that is wrong, incorrect, a disservice and an act against the rights of the deaf persons. Once they are denied information, they become unable.
The PWDs Act 2006 Article 21 on access to information, Clause (1) states: "It shall be the duty of the responsible Government to promote the rights of persons with disabilities to access information through; Clause (2) (a) a television station shall provide sign language inset or subtitles, in at least one major newscast programme daily and in all special programmes of national significance. Clause (b) a telephone company, shall provide special telephone devices for the hearing impaired.
The phasing out of this programme from the waves is an indication that UBC has acted against the law. PWDs comprise 10% of the population of this country and out of this percentage, about 700,000 are deaf persons. UBC and other media televisions have no sign language interpreters in their televisions programmes.
It is technologically unacceptable to phase out such programmes at the time when equal opportunities are being emphasised by all governments worldwide.
There are tens of thousands of languages in the world and sign language is among those that need to be promoted by our governments.
We the members of the African Sign Language Interpreter and Translator Agency (AITA) request and demand that this signography on UBC and other television media stations be reinstated and the costs be met by these media stations for the services as a way to redress the demand for information for the deaf persons.
Consequently, without interpreters, the disability movement will miss the crucial contribution of the deaf.
Sign language interpreters should be recognised by the clients and the community as able, honest, ethical and objective.
The writer is a certified sign language interpreter
Uganda is on track as a model country worldwide for championing the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). This is because it was the first country in the world to have sign language within its national constitution of 1995, an elected deaf Member of Parliament (MP), five MPs with disability in Parliament, sign language interpretation (signography) during the news hour at 8:00pm for the deaf and is a party to many human rights treaties including the United Nation Convection on PWDs ratified on March 30 in New York.
However, it is two years since the former UTV now UBC phased out the simultaneous sign language interpretation for the deaf viewers on its waves. I think that is wrong, incorrect, a disservice and an act against the rights of the deaf persons. Once they are denied information, they become unable.
The PWDs Act 2006 Article 21 on access to information, Clause (1) states: "It shall be the duty of the responsible Government to promote the rights of persons with disabilities to access information through; Clause (2) (a) a television station shall provide sign language inset or subtitles, in at least one major newscast programme daily and in all special programmes of national significance. Clause (b) a telephone company, shall provide special telephone devices for the hearing impaired.
The phasing out of this programme from the waves is an indication that UBC has acted against the law. PWDs comprise 10% of the population of this country and out of this percentage, about 700,000 are deaf persons. UBC and other media televisions have no sign language interpreters in their televisions programmes.
It is technologically unacceptable to phase out such programmes at the time when equal opportunities are being emphasised by all governments worldwide.
There are tens of thousands of languages in the world and sign language is among those that need to be promoted by our governments.
We the members of the African Sign Language Interpreter and Translator Agency (AITA) request and demand that this signography on UBC and other television media stations be reinstated and the costs be met by these media stations for the services as a way to redress the demand for information for the deaf persons.
Consequently, without interpreters, the disability movement will miss the crucial contribution of the deaf.
Sign language interpreters should be recognised by the clients and the community as able, honest, ethical and objective.
The writer is a certified sign language interpreter