The Association des personnes Sourdes du Togo (AST) marked International Deaf Awareness Week with a press conference in Lomé, calling for greater recognition and accessibility for the country's deaf community. The AST emphasized the need for improved access to essential services, including education, healthcare, and justice. They stressed that this begins with the recognition and use of Togolese Sign Language (LST).
The AST is urging the government to accelerate the legal recognition of LST and provide professional interpreters in public administrations and services. This demand spans multiple areas, including education, where the AST advocates for quality education from early childhood, taught in sign language by qualified teachers with adapted materials. They also demand effective access to interpretation in hospitals, courts, and police stations.
The AST highlights that interpretation is a specific profession requiring expertise in precision and confidentiality, distinct from teaching. They emphasize the importance of the "Nothing about us without us" principle, enabling deaf individuals to participate in decisions and initiatives that concern them. This includes the right to work and civic participation.
The AST also addresses the media, requesting that professional sign language interpretation be systematically included in television news and major events. In emergency or crisis situations, they demand rapid and accessible information. This International Deaf Awareness Week coincides with the 50th anniversary of the introduction of sign language in Togo in October 1976.
For the AST, this anniversary is both a celebration and an opportunity to stress that inclusion must translate into daily life, not remain just a principle. The organization is commemorating this double celebration with an event planned for October 16, 2026, at the Agora Senghor in Lomé.
The AST's demands focus on practical implementation and recognition of the deaf community's rights. They seek tangible changes in how services are delivered to ensure equal access and participation. This includes revising current policies and practices to incorporate sign language and interpretation services.
As the International Deaf Awareness Week comes to a close, the AST's message underscores the need for collective action towards a more inclusive society. The organization remains committed to advocating for the rights and needs of Togo's deaf community, pushing for a future where their voices are heard and their rights respected.
Key points
- The AST calls for the Togolese government to recognize and promote the use of Togolese Sign Language (LST) in all public services.
- The organization demands professional interpreters in essential services such as education, healthcare, and justice.
- The AST advocates for the "Nothing about us without us" principle to ensure deaf individuals' participation in decisions affecting them.
