World Federation of the Deaf
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| Formation | 1951 |
|---|---|
| Type | INGO |
| Purpose | Human, Civil, and Linguistic rights of Deaf people. |
| Headquarters | Helsinki, Finland |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 60°13′18″N 24°54′10″E / 60.221728°N 24.902643°E |
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Region served
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International |
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Membership
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70 million |
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President
|
Colin Allen |
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Vice President
|
Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen |
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Main organ
|
Board |
| Website | wfdeaf |
The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) is an international non-governmental organization that acts as a peak body for national associations of Deaf people, with a focus on Deaf people who use sign language and their family and friends. WFD aims to promote the Human Rights of Deaf people worldwide, by working closely with the United Nations (with which it has consultative status) and various UN agencies such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). WFD is also a member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA).
The current 11 board members are all deaf. The offices are located in Helsinki, Finland.
Dr. Cesare Magarotto was one of the founders of World Federation of the Deaf and its first General Secretary (1951-1987) along with Mr. Vittorio Ieralla who was elected as the President from 1951 -1955.
Mr. Ieralla and Dr. Magarotto successfully convinced the Italian government to support their efforts to establish a WFD General Secretariat in Rome, in 1951. With continued support from the Italian government and later with the ENS, the WFD General Secretariat was able to establish informative and advocacy networks, with national federations of the Deaf around the world. Decades later, the WFD General Secretariat relocated to Finland (1987), with support from the Finnish government and the Finnish national of the Deaf led by the former WFD General Secretary Dr. Liisa Kauppinen (WFD President Emeritius).
WFD has B-category status with the United Nations and is represented on the following groups':
WFD provides expert advice on Deaf issues in its relationship with other international organizations and professional groups.
The legal seat of WFD is in Helsinki, Finland.
At present, emphasis is placed on the following areas:
The WFD claims to represent 70 million deaf people worldwide, of which more than 80 percent live in developing countries. This is done mainly through membership of national deaf organisations, where such organisations exist. As of February 2009[update], 130 national associations are members. Associate members, international members and individual members also make up WFD’s membership base.
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